I think it took me about five years, and then when the case went cold, I felt that was the next step. When I say I was horrified, that I couldn't do it, it took so much emotional energy to make that decision and put out the request, and then to find out what if she has been sitting there for a year or two and I didn't know.
I think it's one more step. As Sue mentioned, it's a tool. At the point we're at now...I described what's been done on the file, and we've also had an undercover operation. It's been pretty extensive and I feel the only way we're going to find her now is through DNA. She's been gone long enough that lots of the people who lived in that neighbourhood are gone or have forgotten or have moved. I think all families get to a point where they feel this is one thing, just in case. They're probably going to think it's never going to happen, but this is a safeguard for them and their loved ones, just in case.
It's devastating phoning around to find the dentist she went to four years ago to try to get the dental records, and trying to explain why you need them, and getting copies, and trying to ship them off somewhere, and then wondering if when comparing the records to the skull they found there were enough teeth to be able to identify. DNA is the only way I am going to feel that we have found her. I can't speak for all families, but that's the way I feel.