Missing Gabriel Johnson: Jack & Tammi Smith's House Searched

January 15, 2010.Arizona. In the case of missing baby Gabriel Johnson, The Tempe Police Department obtained a search warrant from the Maricopa County Attorney's office for the residence of Jack and Tammi Smith, near 160th Street and Rio Verde Trail in Scottsdale. Jack and Tammi Smith had wanted to adopt baby Gabriel.

Jack Smith said police secured his house around 7:30pm and waited for a search warrant to arrive. He said detectives began their search at about 11pm and finished around 12:45am. His laptop computer was confiscated; a copy was made of his business computer's hard drive. Smith said the police also confiscated brochures for a foster agency.

In a CBS15 interview outside on the estate grounds of Jack and Tammi Smith, Tempe Police Lt. Mike Horn stated, "This [investigation] is very sensitive. We're getting to the point where we needed to keep a lot of information close to the vest. And we are very hopeful that someone may provide information that'll help us find Gabriel." He said that the 'important factor' is that police still do not know where eight-month-old baby Gabriel Johnson is.

Police do know that Elizabeth Johnson took him to San Antonio, Texas and left there without him. Lt. Mike Horn said, "We still don't know what occurred there- whether or not she killed baby Gabriel or whether or not she may have handed off baby Gabriel to another person or couple." He asked for people to come forward. He refused to discuss the details of the search warrant, including as to whether or not the indoor house search would extend outdoors to the grounds. He also refused to say what investigators were looking for. The Smiths had said on the Nancy Grace show that they had not only volunteered for the polygraphs but had also volunteered to have their home search. They maintain they have nothing to hide.

On Thursday during a two-hour voluntary interview with Tempe Police, just hours before her house was searched, Tammi Smith stated, "I made a poor decision back when I met Elizabeth." Smith is referring to her hurried insertion of her cousin's name, Craig Cherry, onto Johnson's paternity petition- at Johnson's request- just as the courthouse had locked the doors with the few remaining clients inside. She also said, "I helped her [Elizabeth] file her paperwork so she could get her child support and things like that. There was another name put on there [Craig Cherry] and I helped her fill out that paperwork, and because of that it obviously doesn't make me look good."

Smith said that when the news media had first asked her about Cherry's name on the paternity petition, she felt that she should talk with the police about it before talking with the media. Up until now, Jack and Tammi Smith have not hired a lawyer but they are considering doing so.

According to ABC15, Maricopa County prosecutors say Elizabeth Johnson was indicted today by a grand jury on charges of kidnapping, child abuse, and custodial interference. These are in addition to her 'conspiracy to commit custodial interference charge'.

Sources: CBS15 House Searched (sorry, this link no longer works- here is a substitute on the same subject: CNN Transcripts; ABC 15 Mother of Missing Tempe Toddler (this link now goes to a new story about Johnson per ABC15);

^{Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to tbaby Gabriel Johnson. Call 210-224-7867 or CLICK HERE to submit your baby Gabriel tip online. Or text a baby Gabriel tip to 274637: Tip 127 plus your baby Gabriel tip. Or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST to give info on baby Gabriel.}