http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/metro.ssf?/base/news/122699975954220.xml&coll=2
KIM BRYANNews staff writer
Homewood police have switched from a missing person to a criminal case in the disappearance of Nadia Kersh, 23, last seen Nov. 3, officials said Monday.
"We will have a suspect soon, in my opinion," said Homewood Det. Sgt. Doug Finch. Police believe they have built a strong case against an Irondale man and acquaintance of Kersh questioned early on, Finch said. The man was held, but released for lack of evidence to make a charge, Finch said.
"We have good, strong information from witnesses," Finch said. "We have strong forensic evidence. It gets stronger as the days go by."
Asked why, with such strong evidence, the police have not charged the suspect, Finch said. "It's hard to charge homicide without a body."
Finch said he has not given up hope of finding Kersh alive. "You never want to give up hope. But it's been two weeks, and it doesn't look good."
Finch said the results of DNA analysis, which can take weeks, could be a key in the case. That analysis is being done at FBI headquarters in Quantico, Va.
Brandon Falls of the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office is being apprised of the investigation, Finch said.
Starting Wednesday, Homewood police will allow the public to help in the search for Kersh, Finch said. Volunteers, particularly those who have equipment or scent dogs, may call 205-332-6262.
Kersh left her job at Tria Market in Homewood at about 1 p.m. on Nov. 3 to pick up her son, Christopher. She never got to the day care.
Kersh's abandoned car was found in west Birmingham the next day, and her purse was found on railroad tracks in a nearby wooded area.
Finch said police are working on a reverse timeline with CSX and other railroad lines, asking officials to be on the lookout for evidence on tracks and in train cars.
"We hope we find her, or she turns up," Finch said. "But we have moved into a recovery mode point now."
The Irondale man police believe to be a suspect has hired an attorney and has not talked to police since his release, Finch said. He declined to be specific about the man or his relationship to Kersh.
"At this point, we have no specific area to search," Finch said. With help from the FBI evidence recovery team, Finch said the search has spread from West End to Irondale to Lake Purdy. Main access roads have been combed. But there's a lot of ground covered in those areas, Finch said.
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