Search goes out of state

Missing mother's Texas associations under investigation

Charlie Brennan, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 28, 2006 at midnight

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The search for clues to the disappearance of Nonnie Ann Dotson has expanded to Texas, where authorities are examining her computer and making contact with the father of her toddler daughter.

Dotson, 33, has not been seen since Nov. 19, when she left her brother's home in Littleton, where she and her 16-month-old daughter, Savannah Marie, had been visiting. The pair planned to return Nov. 21 to their home in San Antonio, where Dotson works as an intensive care nurse at Lackland Air Force Base.

The missing woman's brother, Tony Dotson, said she left his house in the afternoon for what was to be a brief series of errands, leaving Savannah in his care.

It's not known whether Dotson walked away from her brother's Chatfield Bluffs home or whether a friend picked her up. She'd expressed interest in stopping by a juice and smoothie shop at Jefferson Village, a 10-minute walk from her brother's home, across C-470.

Bexar County, Texas, Sheriff's Capt. Jim Rickhoff said Monday his agency is assisting the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

"At present, we are conducting forensic analysis on the woman's computer," said Rickhoff, adding that family members gave their consent, negating the need for a search warrant. "We will perform other services as they're requested."

Jefferson County sheriff's spokesman Jacki Kelley said Monday that investigators still have not reached a conclusion about even the most basic questions concerning Dotson's disappearance.

"There seems to be two camps, that either she has some involvement in her own disappearance, or that potentially something tragic has happened to her," Kelley said.

None of the evidence uncovered so far makes one theory more credible than the other, Kelley said.

"We simply have nothing new. Zero."

Dotson's purse and cell phone are missing. There has been no activity on her bank or credit card accounts since she disappeared.

Dotson, an avid line dancer, enjoyed a night of dancing at the Grizzly Rose hours before she vanished. Investigators have interviewed several men she met there.

"We have spoken with a couple of people, a handful of people from the Grizzly Rose," said Kelley. "Absolutely none of those interviews proved to be fruitful. All of them have led basically to a dead end."

Two Jefferson County sheriff's investigators are assigned to the case full time, but up to 12 have been involved at various points.

"Absolutely nothing has changed, not a thing," said Dotson's stepfather, Kevin Doyle. "There's been not a word."

Jackie Johanning, a close friend and co-worker who lives in San Antonio, is convinced Dotson didn't choose to make herself scarce.

"It was not by her own hand at all," said Johanning. "Honestly, until someone proves it to me beyond the shadow of a doubt, I will never believe that.

"I know her as a mother. I have spent every holiday either with her or with Savannah. I know she would never up and leave her child. There's no way."

Kelley, who admitted fresh leads and tips are drying up, said, "It's difficult for us to call anyone a suspect, because we literally don't have a crime right now.

"We're kind of at a crossroads, to see what is the most likely scenario. We're looking for any shred of evidence that would lead in one particular direction or another. And we just can't get there."

The father of Dotson's child is Edward Vehle, 53, whom she did not marry. He is also of San Antonio. The two have been involved in court action in Bexar County to establish custody and support issues.

Vehle, who declined comment on Sunday and did not return a call on Monday, was ordered Sept. 21 to pay Dotson $10,200 in back child support and $900 a month in future child support until Savannah is 18 or graduates from high school.

Johanning said Savannah and her father are not close.

"She has never met the man," she said. "He has never held her."

Investigators have also contacted Dotson's ex-husband, Doug Wolenetz, who works at University Hospital. The two were married for eight years but divorced in 2004. He could not be reached for comment.

Dotson maintained a page on My space.com, which features several pictures of her posing with her daughter, with captions such as "She's an angel."

But the Web site, on which Dotson describes herself as "Just another gal trying to find her place in this world," also features an extensive, sometimes strongly worded essay, "What it's like to be 'the nice girl.' " The essay expresses the frustrations entailed in finding a romantic partner who can be trusted.

"This is for the girls who have been used and abused, who have endured what he was giving because at least he was giving something; this is for the stupidity of the nights we've believed that something was better than nothing, though his something was nothing we'd have ever wanted," she wrote.

Dotson, a 1991 Overland High School graduate and former Broomfield resident who planned to move back to Colorado after fulfilling her Air Force commitment in March, also offers a link on her page to the hit country song If You're Going Through Hell, by Rodney Atkins.

The refrain is: "If you're going through hell keep on rolling/ don't slow down, if you're scared don't show it/ you might get out before the devil even knows you're there."

How to help

• According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Dotson, 33, was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweat shirt, white T-shirt and black jeans.

• Anyone with information about Dotson's disappearance is asked to call investigators at 303- 271-5612.

Brennanc@RockyMountainNews.com or 303 954-2742

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