Caleigh Harrison Disappearance: Dad concedes toddler likely swept out to sea

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Undated personal photo of misssing 2-year-old Caleigh Harrison

/ Massachusetts State Police

(CBS/AP) GLOUCESTER, Mass. - The father of missing 2-year-old Caleigh Harrison, who disappeared last April from a Rockport beach, said Monday that he now accepts that his daughter was swept out to sea.

Anthony Harrison said he reached the conclusion after a group called Mission for the Missing investigated the case. The nonprofit is a volunteer group of law enforcement investigators and crime analysts who help search for missing children.

Caleigh disappeared after her mother left her children briefly to retrieve a ball that bounced over a wall. Family members initially though Caleigh was abducted after her 4-year-old sister said she saw a strange man on the beach, but police said there was no evidence of an abduction.

More on Crimesider
May 4, 2012 - Caleigh Harrison Disappearance: Sister saw strange man on beach, dad says

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by knewsteerrrrr July 18, 2012 9:35 PM EDT: Innocent wildlife and the overpopulated planet thank you mom!; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 July 18, 2012 3:34 PM EDT: Even if you do watch your kids like a hawk, all it takes is that few seconds of distraction for something to happen. A parents nightmare.; Reply to this comment


by nomealaska July 18, 2012 1:21 PM EDT: I live in part of the US where people have extra kids because it is likely that one or more will die prematurely. The kids here play hard and get killed in snowmobile, ATV and boating accidents. Should be blame the parents of these kids too? My friend's 3-year old was driving one of those mini-snowmobiles and got away from the parent. The neighbor boy next door spends just about the whole winter jumping off of their second story roof top into a snow drift. Another lady lost 4 sons over the years out hunting whales in the Bering Sea in a small skiff, and now her daughters are trying their hand at whaling. I am sure that the mom of this toddler feels horrible about what happened...please don't make her feel any worse.; Reply to this comment

by nomealaska July 18, 2012 1:09 PM EDT

I live in part of the US where people have extra kids because it is likely that one or more will die prematurely. The kids here play hard and get killed in snowmobile, ATV and boating accidents. Should be blame the parents of these kids too? My friend's 3-year old was driving one of those mini-snowmobiles and got away from the parent. The neighbor boy next door spends just about the whole winter jumping off of their second story roof top into a snow drift. Another lady lost 4 sons over the years out hunting whales in the Bering Sea in a small skiff, and now her daughters are trying their hand at whaling. I am sure that the mom of this toddler feels horrible about what happened...please don't make her feel any worse.

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by bacharles83 July 18, 2012 2:48 PM EDT: I'm not familiar with the culture where you live, but that's not a good analogy to what happened here. Two-year-olds don't "get killed in snowmobile, ATV and boating accidents".

With extremely young children, you have to watch them extremely diligently. I hope this reminds other parents of the potential dangers involved.


by nehicks July 18, 2012 4:19 PM EDT: yes, in your area, I would blame the parents. What parent thinks it's ok for a 3 year old to be on an ATV or snowmobile? What parent thinks it's a good idea to let their children jump out of a second story window into the snow? It sounds like you have extra children because you don't want to teach the current ones to respect motorized equipment or to watch them and stop any "stupid" behavior before it gets started. yes, this mother feels horrible about what happened, but in your case, it sounds like you are at fault for whatever happens to your children.


by morris2196 July 18, 2012 12:58 PM EDT: You need to watch two-year olds like a hawk. Even if you do, something may happen to them.; Reply to this comment