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Tonya Papanikolas reportingDestiny's parents thanked police today for the way they handled the investigation of their daughter. Many others had expressed their doubts in the case.
We've seen for two days how upset family and friends were to find out Destiny had been found so close to her home.
They yelled at police and said they'd been lied to.
That was a stark contrast to the scene today.
Jeanie Hill, Monday night: "They have betrayed our trust. They told us they looked. They didn't look."
This was the scene two nights ago as friends of the Norton family threw accusations at police.
Peter Brooks, Monday night: "This is not what should have happened. If she was this close, she should have been found the night she disappeared."
Jeanie Hill, Monday night: "You obviously don't have children, and if you do, you don't love them."
Today, those same people publicly apologized for the outbursts.
Jeanie Hill, Norton Family Friend: I want to personally apologize to Elda Montez, cause I believe he's the officer that I did spit on, and I'm so sorry."
Peter Brooks even thanked the FBI, saying agents had done their job.
Peter Brooks, Norton Family Friend: I'd like the community to keep in mind, they did bring Destiny home, and that was the goal in all this. They brought the suspect, we know who did it and we know where she is."
It seems the community doesn't need to be reminded of the work law enforcement did in this case. In an exclusive SurveyUSA poll for KSL, 37% of people said the police department had done an excellent job during the search. 33% said police had done a good job.
Another poll asked if police should have been more open about the case. While 31% said YES, an overwhelming 63% said NO.
As police continue to keep most of the case to themselves for now, the Chief did express his appreciation for the apologies.
Chief Chris Burbank, Salt Lake City Police Dept.: "We could not have accomplished what we ere able to do in this circumstance without the volunteers, the strength of the family and the extended family."
The poll was administered before today press conference.
The chief actually apologized today for not being able to release more information. He did say that Gregerson had been cooperative with officers.
