Constantine Residents on Edge as Rumors Swirl After Girl's Murder

by Leanne Tokars (ltokars@wsbt.com)

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Constantine Residents on Edge as Rumors Swirl After Girl's Murder

From abduction attempts to another body found in a cemetery, police are dealing with rumors in Constantine after 11-year-old Jodi Parrack was murdered Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

(WSBT) The murder of a young girl has left a community on edge and rumors running rampant.

Everything from abduction attempts to another body found in a cemetery — police are dealing with rumors in Constantine after 11-year-old Jodi Parrack's body was found in a cemetery Thursday.

Police have made no arrests in Parrack's death while following more than 300 tips.

"I think everybody's just apprehensive and everybody's on guard and watching for anything," said Peg Preston, who lives in Constantine.

In fact, police say someone reported what they thought was an abduction Tuesday night, which wasn't true. But police say hours and hundreds of calls later, rumors had morphed to the point where police supposedly had found a dead child.

"It's absolutely tragic, but it does give some idea as to how concerned people are right now in the village," said Constantine Police Chief Mark Honeysett.

Phone calls and emails come in every day to WSBT from people claiming to have new information related to the case.

It includes people being taken into custody, new abductions and even another body found in a cemetery.

"I am just worried about the safety of our kids because I heard there was another child murdered," said a mother from Constantine who called WSBT Wednesday.

So far, police say none of the rumors are true.

"I don't believe anything's going to happen again," Honeysett told WSBT News. "Jodi's death was tragic, and I'd do anything to change what has happened, but I don't believe there's someone in town who is targeting children. I don't believe we have a serial killer in town we have to worry about."

But Honeysett still urges anyone who hears anything to check it out with them first.

"I think everybody's going to be apprehensive in this town — especially because it's so small — until it's solved," said Preston.

Honeysett says they're still urging parents to do what any good parents would do — keep an eye on your children.

He's also asking for more tips. They still haven't gotten any information from anyone who may have seen Jodi after 4:45 p.m. Thursday.

Thursday, Dec 13 at 4:27 PM Furious Angel wrote ...

Just seen the youngest Parrack boy at the Harvey House @ 10p.m. Why would the mother let him out so late(at a bar), when a murderer is out there? Is that some kind of neglect? Why was he there without an adult?

Thursday, Nov 15 at 5:55 PM rick wrote ...

I wonder how closely they are looking at the obvious suspect, the mother. This case sounds like every other case where the parent did it and moved the body to make it look like it was someone else.

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