Police: Le Case Is ‘Really, Really Complex’

Responding to family criticisms that to find missing San Mateo resident Michelle Le, Hayward police told Patch on Thursday night that while they sincerely hope to find Le alive, various forms of evidence have led them to believe that she is not.

That evidence, said Hayward police spokesman Sgt. Steve Brown, includes interviews and items gathered through search warrants, review of video footage from the garage and other locations, and examination of Le's cell phone records.

While Brown said the investigation is moving forward, investigators are dealing with a multifaceted investigation due to the information being gathered through interviews and other factors.

“Every interview, every piece of evidence, every statement, every analysis, every evaluation we have before us, causes us to make different turns in the road,” Brown said. “It’s a really, really complex investigation.”

Investigators have said they believe Le was killed by a person or people she knew. Some focus has intensified on a who police have called a “person of interest.”

That Union City woman’s apartment has been searched twice, most recently on Monday. Hayward police have collected a number of items, from DNA to computers and phones, Brown said.

However, Hayward police have several “persons of interests” and no suspects have been identified, Brown said. As of today, more than 40 people have been interviewed about Le’s disappearance.

At the vigil Thursday evening, the family thanked Hayward police for their work on their case and said they realized that investigators could not disclose too much information without compromising the case. But the Le family believes more can be done. Many called on the FBI to take over the case.

Brown said he understands the family’s goals of finding Le and said the reason information has not been released is solely to not jeopardize the investigation.

“Everybody wants answers now, as do we. Everyone wants evidence returned, as do we,” Brown said.

The Le family’s devotion to finding the missing San Mateo resident has been nothing short of amazing, he added.

“From the billboards to the reward money … to their support system, their following, their friends, their church, their community and ours … I can’t say enough about their motivation to bring Michelle home,” said Brown, adding that Hayward police’s number one goal is to find Le “at all costs.”

“We totally understand. It’s our hopes that we’re wrong … that she will come home,” Brown said.

And holding on to that hope is what family and friends are focusing on.

“We have no excuse to give up,” said Jason Manalang, a close friend of Le’s and the maker of the T-shirts many participants wore at the Thursday vigil.

Michelle Le is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. The Hayward Police Department has set up a tip line for anyone with information that could help with the case; that number is (510) 293-5051.

People are encouraged to download, print and post fliers of Michelle Le to help spread the word. Click here to download the English version. Click here to download the Spanish version.

Family and friends plan to host an event in which supporters are invited to distribute fliers with them on Sunday. The time and place is yet to be determined.

For ways to help the family search for Michelle Le, visit www.michellelemissing.com.