PROVO — While volunteers comb canyons and neighborhoods for any clues that would help find a missing Brigham Young University student, police are analyzing fingerprints found on a significant piece of evidence — a bicycle that may have belonged to the 22-year-old woman.
Camille Cleverley disappeared Aug. 30 and was last seen that evening riding north on 900 East on her purple and silver Schwinn bicycle. The bike was turned in late Thursday by two people who said they took the bike from the Bridal Veil Falls area, then turned it in to police when they saw on the news that Cleverley was missing.
"We can't confirm for sure, but it's the same make, model as hers," said Provo Police Lt. John Geyerman. The pair who turned the bike in were interviewed but are not people of interest.
They simply committed a "crime of opportunity," Geyerman said. He said they will not be cited because they brought the bike to police, instead of dumping it.
Police searched the Bridal Veil Falls area Thursday night and all day Friday and are also working with Schwinn to compare serial numbers of the bike found in the canyon and bikes the company might have sold in the Provo area.
On Friday, nearly 40 officers from Provo and Utah County search-and-rescue teams were on the Provo Canyon mountain. Some were placed at the top by helicopter to conduct a search from top down, said Provo Police Capt. Dave Bolda.
Nunns Park in Provo Canyon was closed and lined with police tape. A Utah County sheriff's deputy guarded the entrance, turning away longboarders, walkers and bikers as teams searched the mountain on foot and with dogs.
As crews searched the canyons, hundreds arrived at BYU to help. Groups were organized and sent out to knock and doors and put up posters.
"I'm helping do a search for Camille Cleverley. Have you seen her?" asked Ashleigh McDougal at one apartment in Provo.
She held up a flyer with Cleverley's picture and then described the bike. "If you see her anywhere, please don't hesitate to call police."
McDougal and her sister Lyndsay and their friend Amy Redd covered a block from University Avenue to 100 East and from 400 to 500 North, knocking on every door and noting who wasn't home. They looked through bushes, peered in car windows and opened every trash and recycling can.
"You just never know," said Redd. "You can't give up hope, for the family's sake."
Groups fanned out in a seven-mile radius from BYU, asking anyone if they had seen the blue-eyed, blond, 5-foot-5-inch Idaho native.
The massive, coordinated search will continue today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and go through Sunday.
The Cleverley family spoke to the media briefly Friday morning. They all wore matching blue BYU shirts. Blue, they said, is Camille's favorite color.
"It's times like these that remind us we're all vulnerable," said Camille's father, Joel Cleverley.
"We are touched," said mom Susan Cleverley, choking up. "We are deeply touched by the concern expressed here. The Lord is uniting people and bringing us together."
The family again expressed appreciation for the volunteers and asked for more people willing to spare an hour or two in the weekend search.
Utah's first lady Mary Kaye Huntsman also joined Friday's search.
"I have a 22-year-old daughter — that's why we're here," Mary Kaye Huntsman said, motioning to daughter Mary Anne beside her.
"I tend to go running by myself," said Mary Anne Huntsman. "You never think anything like this would happen."
"Everyone's vulnerable," Mary Kaye Huntsman said. "We could be in the same shoes. This is an eye-opener for all of us."
The city search was coordinated by the Texas-based Laura Recovery Center for Missing Children. Bob Smither co-founded the group after his daughter Laura was abducted and killed 10 years ago. Her remains were found 20 days after she was taken.
"When Laura was missing it meant everything to us to have the community care," Smither said. "It was the only thing that kept us sane."
The organization also aided in the search for Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her home in 2002 and found alive nine months later. Her accused abductors remain in custody, awaiting trial on numerous charges.
"There's nothing like the outpouring of volunteers to make a difference in giving hope," said Ed Smart, Elizabeth's father, who also came to search Friday. "It helped us see we weren't alone in this. With Elizabeth, awareness is what helped to bring her home."
Most volunteers on Friday's search hadn't known Cleverley but wanted to help.
"If I were lost, I would hope more than just people I knew would come looking for me," said Sandi Summers, a recent BYU graduate who arrived at 8 a.m. Friday to search.
"There are not many opportunities you have to help with a situation like this besides say your prayers," said Larry Smalley of Cedar Hills. "This opportunity is fleeting. Take advantage."
The basement of BYU's Harman Building was transformed into an Emergency Operations Center, with a call center, briefing rooms and a media station.
Teams were instructed to call out Cleverley's name as they searched. They were also told to not move any piece of evidence should they stumble across something interesting. Volunteers also were instructed to not put themselves at risk.
The ongoing search for Camille Cleverley
• Search time: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Where: Harman Building — close to 900 East on University Avenue
• When: Saturday and Sunday; bring a photo ID
• Tips: Call Provo police at 852-6211 or 911
• Web site: www.findcamille.org
• Phone number for info about search: 1-801-422-0670
E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com