Search Underway for Child
2-year old boy missing from Beaver Creek Canyon
July 29, 2010 - UPDATE
Good Afternoon –
First of all, I would like to correct the spelling of Sylar’s first name. His name contains an “a” not an “e” and I apologize for the late correction of this error.
Case status
The search effort will continue throughout the day, overnight and into tomorrow. No end date has been set. Commands teams are constantly evaluating information and strategy as YCSO and its incredible search volunteers continue their efforts to find Sylar.
Investigators remain in contact with Sylar’s family. They have cooperated and assisted with multiple interviews and follow-up questions by detectives.
Last night, detectives completed contact with all sex offenders in the Verde Valley area. This contact included interviews and searches as necessary with each offender. No additional leads have been discovered as of this time involving area sex offenders.
Investigators continue their follow-up on leads provided by family members, campers who were in the area at the time of Sylar’s disappearance, and phone interviews generated by media reports. If someone is hesitant to contact the Sheriff’s Office for fear of being identified, please contact Yavapai Silent Witness immediately at 1-800-932-3232.
Critical updates will be sent immediately via this email alert system.
We hope and pray for Sylar’s safe return.
July 27, 2010 - UPDATE
The search for Syler Newton by Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies, search and rescue personnel, and assisting units from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, will continue throughout the day. Search supervisors plan to widen the scope of the search to make sure every opportunity to find Syler Newton is explored. At least 5 search dogs will also be part of today’s operation along with several ground teams. 
Additional information shared at yesterdays press briefings –
-- YCSO is handling this incident in a two prong manner. The first priority is to find Syler which is the mission of the massive search effort underway with no resource being spared. The second prong to our work is comprised of an extensive investigation into the incident, the parties involved, and anything else that might shed light on Syler’s disappearance.
-- Syler’s custodial mom is 37-year-old Christina Priem. Christina’s mom has been identified as 57-year-old Nancy Collins and both are from Flagstaff. Polygraph examinations, which are typical procedural matters under these circumstances, were scheduled yesterday. Family members have been cooperative and involved in multiple interviews with detectives about the incident.
--A correction to prior information – Syler was last seen around 12:30 AM on Sunday by Christina and was sleeping in a tent along with Christina, Nancy and Christina’s 12-year-old daughter. Christina’s 14-year-old son and her son’s 14-year-old friend were sleeping in an adjacent tent. Christina discovered Syler missing at 1:45AM.
--Syler was last seen by non-family campers around 9 PM on Saturday, July 24.
-- With assistance from FBI agents, Syler’s biological mother has been located and interviewed. She resides out of state. Detectives are still attempting to find legal process Christina initiated regarding her claim she was trying to adopt Syler.
-- A 911 call was located which came from family members around 2 AM on Sunday morning. The call originated with the Sedona Fire Department and was apparently lost after transfer to YCSO Communications. A call from the camp host at the Beaver Creek Campground was made to YCSO at 2:30 AM and deputies arrived just prior to 3AM. Calls may be released at a later date but are still under review by detectives.
-- Approximately 25 campers were in the area when Syler was reported missing. Some of those campers assisted with the search and all cooperated with requests by deputies to check personal campsites and vehicles for Syler. Campers were required to register and reserve a campsite at the Beaver Creek Campground and detectives have obtained those records.
-- Some of the water pools along the nearby creek can have a depth of 5 feet. Divers and swift water rescue teams continue to search these areas.
-- Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Bureau continue to examine property and vehicles recovered from the campsite. The vehicles were a Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla which belong to Christina and her mom.
-- Detectives are not disclosing any further information at this time regarding the investigation which might jeopardize any leads. They appreciate your understanding and patience.
July 26, 2010 - UPDATE
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies and numerous search and rescue personnel remained at the Beaver Creek Campground throughout yesterday and overnight to continue the search for 2-year-old Syler Newton. This morning, highly trained bloodhounds are conducting a grid search of the area to make sure all possibilities of potential scent markings have been exhausted. It is expected the general search effort will continue throughout the day.
Late morning yesterday, YCSO detectives learned that the person, who identified herself as Syler’s mother, is actually his custodial mom. She told detectives she is in the process of legally adopting Syler who has been in her care for several months. Detectives are attempting to verify this information and also intend to contact Syler’s biological mother to learn about events which led to this current arrangement. 
Syler and family, including the custodial mother, her mother, and her two children ages 10 and 12, all came to the campsite this past Friday. The family is from Flagstaff. The custodial mother claims she last saw Syler around 12:30 AM on Sunday inside a tent immediately adjacent to the tent she slept in. Slyer was sleeping with one of the custodial mom’s children. At approximately 1:45AM, the custodial mother found Syler missing and conducted a search before calling 911. The first official call recorded by YCSO Communications came around at 2:30 AM from a camp host. Deputies were on scene by 3 AM and conducted an initial search along with interviews of area campers. The full search effort began in earnest during the early morning hours on Sunday. We are still in the process of trying to verify a call from the custodial mother to YCSO Sunday morning. Cell phone reception is poor in the area and could have been a factor.
Deputies contacted and spoke with over 25 campers who were on site at the time of Syler’s disappearance. As of yesterday, the campground was cleared of all visitors to allow search crews to continue their work.
Yesterday, detectives recovered 2 vehicles and property from Syler’s campsite and those items will be examined over the next few days in an attempt to shed light on this situation. There is no immediate indication Syler was taken from the campsite, so searchers are working under the assumption he wandered from his tent. Non-family member campers told deputies they saw Syler at the campsite Saturday evening.
July 25, 2010 - PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
Deputies, along with search and rescue personnel, are currently involved in the search for a missing 2-year-old boy last seen in the Beaver Creek Campground. The campground is located south/east of Highway 179 off I17. The boys name is Syler Newton and he has light brown hair, blue eyes, and was wearing only a diaper. He is approximately 3 feet tall and weighs about 20 pounds.
Syler was last seen around midnight inside a tent while sleeping with other family members. At about 1:45 AM this morning, the family discovered he was missing from his sleeping bag. They searched the area briefly and called 911 after failing to locate the child. Deputies arrived on scene and began a preliminary search and interviews with nearby campers.
Currently, YCSO has over 50 personnel on scene as part of the coordinated search effort. DPS Ranger completed a flyover this morning and is expected to return and search further.
If anyone has information regarding Syler and/or his whereabouts, please contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately via 911 or 928-771-3260.
