Missing child’s
hanai family, friends
gather in prayer

By Suzanne Tswei
Star-Bulletin

Xiana La-Shay Kapuali'i Fairchild is classified as police case number 99-25692 in Vallejo, Calif., where she has been missing since Dec. 9. But to her friends and hanai family in Honolulu, the 7-year-old is a sweet, friendly and beloved child who is more than a number.

"She's a Hawaii girl," said Kai Matheison, her godmother. "She was born here and the first five years of her life she was here. People remember her, and we are all praying for her safe return."

Matheison was among two dozen people who gathered last night for a prayer service at Calvary Chapel, which Xiana had attended with her hanai family. The chapel pledged $5,000 toward an $11,000 reward for her safe return, or for the arrest and conviction of her captors.

Xiana's disappearance has been widely publicized on the mainland, and her case was featured on a recent "America's Most Wanted" episode on television. Police have received more than 400 tips but have no solid leads or suspects.

Xiana was reported missing after she failed to show up at school. Her mother's live-in boyfriend, Robert Turnbough, initially told police he dropped her off at a school bus stop in the morning on his way to work. But he later said he can't recall what happened. Police said it's not clear whether she was at the bus stop.

"We don't really know what happened," Matheison said. "Maybe she was kidnapped. There were different sightings, and police released sketches for two men who were spotted with her." Police describe the men as witnesses who were unable to provide any leads.

"She was a happy child. She always wanted to please. She was very friendly, maybe too friendly to strangers (even though) her family always taught her to distinguish between friends and strangers," said Matheison.

Donations for volunteer search efforts on the mainland are being accepted through the Amber Foundation for Missing Kids, c/o Search Effort for Xiana Fairchild, P.O. Box 152, Kunia, 96759-0152.