SUNSET — A team of cold-case experts will take a fresh look at the unsolved slaying of a 3-year-old girl, 25 years after she was kidnapped from a playground, authorities said Sunday.

An exhumation of Rachael Runyan's remains is also possible, Police Chief Ken Eborn said.

"I don't have any major new developments," he said in an interview. "Technically, the case has always been open. What we're really doing is a re-examination of everything we have, give it a fresh set of eyes.

"Obviously, forensics are far more advanced than what they were even five years ago," Eborn said.

Rachael was abducted from a playground on Aug. 26, 1982, as her brothers looked on. Her body was found 24 days later. There have been no arrests.

Her parents joined Eborn, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and others at a news conference at Doxey Elementary School in Sunset in Davis County.

"Its been 25 years since we lost our baby. We appeal to the public to help us solve this case and finally bring justice to Rachael," Elaine Runyan-Simmons said in a statement.

Eborn said there is no timetable for a review of the case.

"We have clothing from the victim that we want to look at," he said. "We feel it's important for people to look over the original autopsy report and photos. I'm confident investigators did a good job."

There is a $53,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.

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"Rachael's murder started a fire that still burns today," Shurtleff said in a statement. "This fire shines a light on the dark deeds of child abductors and sparks countless people to do more to bring kidnapped children home."

Eborn believes tipsters could solve the case.

"I refuse to believe that the person or persons who did this kept it quiet for 25 years," he said.


On the Net: Sunset police: www.sunset-ut.com

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