Harley Dilly still missing after 3 weeks

PORT CLINTON — It's been more than three weeks since Harley Dilly went missing.And, with the exception of a few details, the public knows about as much of what might have happened to the 14-year-old boy — a Port Clinton High School student — now as it did shortly after his disappearance.Harley disappeared on his way to school Dec. 20. Police say he was wearing glasses, grey sweatpants, a maroon puffy jacket and black tennis shoes.Port Clinton police Chief Rob Hickman has been posting daily updates about the case since Dec. 22 on the police Facebook page. On that first day and in the days that followed, the content of Hickman's posts included information like Dilly's physical description, what he was wearing, when he was last seen and some details on early search efforts. In a post Dec. 26, Hickman wrote that about 75 first responders searched a 150-acre area in Port Clinton.But every day since Jan. 1, each daily update starts with the same line: "Unfortunately, we have NO new information that I am able to share with you this morning regarding Harley."That annoys some people who are following the story at social media. "Doesn't it really seem like all they do is copy and paste the message every day?" Rick Knuckles wrote. "I understand things may not change, but there has to be more info that might help.""Haven't they said this several times already?" user Meaghann Caporicci wrote. "It's the same announcement."Added user Chelie Kayy, "Chief Hickman: These copy and paste posts aren't doing anything to keep public interest. Which you need if you want to find Harley. You need to consider putting more info out. Keep the public talking. Keep his name in the news."Before repeating the same line in his Jan. 10 post, Hickman appeared to respond to some of these comments by saying that Dilly's case is an "active investigation."But his unusual reliance on social media has generated some backlash, suggestions that he's provided some misinformation and a great deal of speculation about what might have happened to Harley, including attacks on the boy's family.There are many other comments on Hickman's posts, however, expressing support for police and offering prayers for Dilly's safe return.SOCIAL MEDIA SLEUTHS Speculation has been rampant since the start of the investigation. Users have been spreading unverified theories about his disappearance on Hickman's posts and on other pages.There was also apparently false information early on in the investigation that Dilly had been found, which Hickman responded to in a post Dec. 23."PLEASE stop posting that he has been located, unless WE the POLICE have actually notified you!" he wrote.Hickman has been advising people daily not to spread rumors.In unrelated incidents before Dilly's disappearance, two other local law enforcement spoke out about the dangers of police social media use during investigations.On Dec. 17, Sandusky police Chief John Orzech said that while his agency had to use social media to help track down a murder suspect, doing so has drawbacks."For those of you that follow our Facebook page, we rarely use the platform to show suspects, discuss arrests or discuss investigations," Orzech wrote. "I have purposely chose not to do that, so that we don't have banter, hatred, spewing gossips, rumors, or spreading false information about individuals."And on Nov. 14, Huron County Sheriff Todd Corbin made a Facebook post lamenting the effect that both traditional forms of media and social media had on the family of Damian Henning, a missing Norwalk teenager found dead in Toledo."I also want to apologize for all the misinformation people are putting out there to hinder the investigation and add to the stress and misery of the family," Corbin wrote. "The media is a great tool to disseminate information, but a nightmare for family and friends who are grieving the loss of a child. I would hope the news media, newspapers and social media would respect the family during this devastating time and allow you to mourn your loss in private."Unanswered questionsAside from the obvious question — what happened to Harley — many questions about the police investigation remain unanswered, including:• If Port Clinton police conducted any additional ground searches than the one mentioned Dec. 26. The agency did mention conducting aerial searches, but did not say where those were done, and have indicated that those have since ended. • What specific areas they searched, and what areas they recommend civilian search parties look for Harley• If local sex offenders have been investigated — Dilly was seen in a video posted at a social media site prior to his disappearance, shirtless and giving out his phone number.Hickman has not responded to calls and emails seeking answers.Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Levorchick did confirm sex offenders living the jurisdiction his agency covers — areas of Ottawa County outside the city of Port Clinton — were investigated."We have no indication of any involvement by any of them at this point," Levorchick said.Missing: Harley DillyHickman said on Thursday that the current reward for information leading to Dilly's safe return has risen to about $18,500.Here's info on Harley's appearance:Harley Dilly• Gender: Male• Age: 14• Race/Ethnicity: White• Height: 4'9"• Weight: 100 lbs• Hair color: Brown• Eye color: Green• Note: Harley was last seen on Dec. 20. He was wearing glasses, grey sweatpants, a maroon puffy jacket and black tennis shoes.If you have any information on Harley's whereabouts, call 911, Port Clinton police at 419-734-3121 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.View our Harley Dilly hub for more storiesReach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterHarley Dilly pictured in November 2019 in a coat he was last seen in.