Relative is arrested in missing family case

TAYLORSVILLE, Miss. -- Investigators searching for a couple and their young son who disappeared on Valentine's Day said Saturday night they plan to charge a relative of the family in connection with their disappearance.

State Highway Patrol spokesman Warren Strain would not say what Earnest Lee Hargon would be charged with but said charges were "adding up."

Authorities detained Hargon, an adopted cousin of the missing family, earlier Saturday and can hold him for 48 hours without charging him. "We will make that window," Strain said.

Investigators also searched Hargon's property in southern Mississippi on Saturday as they tried to solve the disappearance of Michael and Rebecca Hargon and their 4-year-old son, James Patrick.

Rebecca Hargon is the daughter of Bill and Linda Hirtz of Poplar Bluff, Mo. The couple's daughter was born in Cape Girardeau.

There has been no trace of the family since Feb. 14. Lawmen reported finding blood and spent bullet casings at the family's home, but no signs of forced entry.

Authorities closed off a county road on both sides of Leaf River Veterinary Services as part of the investigation. The clinic is on Hargon's property, and his wife works there as a veterinarian, Strain said.

The search area included the clinic, Earnest Hargon's residence and the banks of the nearby Leaf River, Strain said. He said possible evidence was found but did not elaborate.

"We're very hopeful that the questioning and the search warrants will lead to a resolution about the whereabouts of the Hargon family," Strain said. "The latest developments have been dramatic, groundbreaking. We are very confident that the resolution of this tragic and awful situation is imminent."

Search continues

Several other people were being questioned but were not being detained, Strain said. Searchers were holding out hope that the family would be found alive, Strain said.

"Nothing has been ruled out," he said. "We are still hopeful."

The search, involving ground teams, dogs and a helicopter, was halted shortly before 7 p.m. because of darkness, Strain said.

Strain said there were five wood-frame structures in the area of the veterinary clinic and that crime laboratory teams were checking each building. Strain said officers were also searching the property, which includes woods.

Authorities declined to say whether they were looking for bodies or for other evidence.

Investigators also have been checking a piece of property Michael Hargon recently inherited from his uncle, Charles Hargon, to determine if it is linked to the disappearance, said Jennifer Hargon, Michael's sister. Earnest Hargon, Charles Hargon's adopted son, was not included in the will, she said.

Rebecca Hargon's aunt, Trudy Duncan of Poplar Bluff, Mo., said Saturday she had talked with family members in Mississippi about the search.

"I hope that they are OK. That's all I want," Duncan said. "All we want is to see the media with some beautiful faces on there."

Authorities have received about 400 tips, dozens related to a white van, Strain said. The van had been spotted in the area around the time they believe the family disappeared, investigators said.

A reward of $100,000 is being offered from information leading to the safe return of the Hargons.