___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
FROM AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY SHAWN SUTHERLAND TO THE FRIENDS OF THE CARROLLTON PUBLIC LIBRARY ON MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010:

...instances of the media taking an interest in this case are more the exception than the norm [and] we cannot rely on the media to spread this story.  If we take that attitude, this case is lost.  We are the ones who have to keep this story alive.  It is up to us to educate others about this case and to spread the word about it. Getting people with information to come forward and share what they know is the key to solving this case. That has already been proven to a degree since the publication of this book.

Solving a mystery of this sort is akin to assembling a jigsaw puzzle without having the box lid to look at.  As a result, you don’t know precisely what the final picture is supposed to look like.  But what’s certain is that the more puzzle pieces you have, the easier it is to put that puzzle together. And the pieces come in all shapes and sizes.

Since the publication of the book and the subsequent WFAA story, people have come forward with what I’ll term "additional information," and I apologize again that I can’t share any details with you, but that’s just how things are at this point in time...I want to make two points:

(1) I cannot stress enough, if you or someone you know has information regarding what happened to these girls, even if it’s just something you heard, you need to pass it along to the police. And if you’re doing this "What I know couldn’t possibly be of any value to the police" game, let the police be the ones to decide just how helpful or irrelevant what you know might be.

(2) Do not feel as though you have to possess first hand information about this case in order to be “justified” in contacting police. Even if you have third hand information (you know – one of those “My sister used to date a guy whose brother’s cousin heard that...” stories), pass that along to the police. After all, you can tell police who your sister is, she can tell police who the guy she used to date is, he can tell police who his brother and cousin are, and the cousin can then tell police what he heard! So, again, if you’ve heard something, even if it’s second or third hand, share it!

Persons with any information regarding the Stacie Madison/Susan Smalley case, should contact the Carrollton Police Department at 972-466-3300.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________