The parents of a missing Tucson girl today brushed off any speculation by police and the public that they were involved in the disappearance of their daughter and vowed to be more visible in the search for the missing girl.
Sergio and Becky Celis had come under some criticism for not being more available to the public in the effort to find their 6-year-old daughter Isabel, who they reported missing from the family’s midtown home on April 21.
The couples’ first interview with local reporters started with a defensive tone from Becky Celis over criticism about how they appeared on camera during an interview Thursday on NBC’s “Today” show, in which some viewers said they seemed to lack emotion.
"If you know how we’re supposed to be acting, please let me know," Becky Celis said today. "I don’t know what they’re expecting from us."
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Celis said she chose not to put herself and the family in front of the camera because she is an especially private person and she doesn’t feel comfortable being in front of television cameras. “I break down every night,” she said.
"Sorry that we're not breaking down in front of you every five seconds," she told a hand-selected group of local reporters. "I don’t want to be in front of you guys. I don't want to be here. I don't want to be in front of the cameras. What I want is (Isabel) here."
Sergio Celis said he accepts the scrutiny leveled against him by investigators as well as some members of the public. Asked again today how he feels about speculation that he is involved in Isabel’s disappearance, he said: “I really don’t know what to answer to that, other than, ‘You’re wrong.’ ”
However, he said he hopes police are as thorough in their questioning of anyone who has been around their daughter and in their home. "How are we going to trust anyone who has been in our home?" Sergio Celis asked.
Tucson police said at its daily briefings that about 50 detectives and support personnel are assigned to the investigation. The department is also receiving assistance from the FBI and U.S. Marshal's Service.
Sgt. Maria Hawke said the department supported Isabel's parents speaking to the media. "The important thing is to keep Isabel in the fronts of people's minds," she said.
She said there have been about 900 tips turned into the department about the case.
Both parents said they don’t know if Isabel was targeted or why their daughter is missing. “We don’t understand why, or how we made Isabel a target,” Becky Celis said.
The parents said the pressure of the case is wearing on the family. They said Isabel’s two brothers are trying to appear strong, but they have not been back to school since their sister was reported missing, though they each did play in a Little League game last week.
He said the family is more likely to participate in public fundraisers and community events organized to benefit the search for Isabel.
The parents said they continue to focus on trying to find Isabel. "Our focus is on finding our little girl," Sergio Celis said.
Neither parent speculated about the case and did not answer specific questions about the investigation.
Becky Celis said she is worried about talking about the investigation because she fears it could lead to harming Isabel or making it harder to find her.
“We don’t have anything to hide,” Becky Celis said. “People who know us, know we have nothing to do with this.”
“At the end of the day Isabel will be home and we will know who did this,” Becky Celis said.
The interview, shown live on local channels, marked the third time the family has spoken with the media. It lasted about 40 minutes.
A reporter from each of the three local network affiliates and one from the Star participated.
On Thursday they appeared on NBC’s “Today” show, answering questions from anchor Ann Curry.
Today’s interview was the first time the parents answered questions from local reporters.
Police have not identified a person of interest in the case and nobody has been ruled out as a suspect as the search for Isabel was in its 14th day.
