Rothwell said “a tremendous amount of work” has gone into the case. He said that at one point more than 40 GBI agents were involved along with local law enforcement and the FBI. He said the case is still being actively worked.

“The investigators never quit,” Rothwell said. “Interest in the case and media attention comes and goes, but we are still here working.”

To make his point, Rothwell said he had a case solved just last year that had occurred in 1987.

Rothwell likened the investigation process to a mathematical equation, trying to solve for a variable.

“We get information that doesn’t make sense, then we turn up a lead, and suddenly it fits,” he said.

Asked if he had ruled out any suspects in the case, Rothwell explained that the GBI does not use the term “suspect.”

“In a case like this it is virtually impossible to rule anyone out,” Rothwell said. “There are too many scenarios.”

The case is still being worked as a missing persons case.

“She was obviously the victim of foul play,” Rothwell said. “But we don’t have any evidence at this time that it was a homicide.”

Rothwell points out that even though the case is officially listed as a missing persons case, “it is absolutely worked the same as if it were a homicide.”

Rothwell said he is aware there has been a lot of speculation about who is responsible for Grinstead’s disappearance, especially on the Internet.

He is familiar with the Court TV board.

“I would be very careful about taking any of that as factual,” Rothwell said.

Ocilla Police Department Chief Billy Hancock said the Grinstead investigation is still active and ongoing.

“We’re still trying to find out where she is,” Hancock said.