Steamboat Pilot & Today

Hayden — Law enforcement officers, aided by a handful of volunteers and dogs, will search three more sites this weekend, looking for clues in the disappearance of Marie Blee, a Hayden girl who has been missing for more than 20 years.
Both Paul and Mona Blee, Marie's parents, will help search the three sites in Moffat and Routt counties this weekend. Some of the sites, Paul Blee said, were identified by a family friend based on strong feelings the woman had about Marie.
"We've got to get some closure on this," Paul said. "It'll be alright this weekend if we find something."
One of the sites has already been searched, but sources told an interagency task force investigating Blee's disappearance that it may not have gone far enough, Moffat County Undersheriff Jerry Hoberg said.
Another of the sites has some history, Hoberg said, because unidentifiable bones were found there some time ago. The group will take people along this weekend to help identify bones.
The third site is one task force members have been aware of for some time, but they have been waiting for the rough terrain to dry up.
"All three are very important sites for us to cover," Hoberg said. "We'll be sending out a dog in front of us, and following on foot and horseback."
In November 1979, 15-year-old Marie left a party in Craig and was never seen again. Some authorities have speculated that the attractive blond girl overdosed on drugs and the teen-agers she was with disposed of her body in the rural land of western Routt or eastern Moffat County. However, murder has not been ruled out.
A task force that includes members of the sheriff's offices in Routt and Moffat County as well as the Hayden Police Department was formed a year ago to reopen the 20-year-old case. Since then, a large number of interviews and a handful of searches in and around Hayden have failed to turn up clues.

To reach Bonnie Nadzam call 871-4205 or e-mail bnadzam@amigo.net