UPDATED 4.02.10 6:30pm by Julie Montanaro

A tip that prompted a search for the body of a missing Tallahassee woman in Brooks County, Georgia yesterday turns out to be a hoax.

As we reported Thursday, an anonymous caller claimed that Danielle Brown's body was in a creek under a bridge on Old Pavo Road.

Searches that night and the next morning turned up nothing.

Now Brooks County Sheriff Mike Dewey says they have tracked down the caller and determined the whole thing was a prank.

Dewey says he is drawing up warrants and intends to arrest the man next week. He says he'll release his name at that time.

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UPDATED 12:30pm by Julie Montanaro

Brooks County Sheriff Mike Dewey says deputies received an anonymous tip last night just before 10pm. Dewey says the caller said Danielle Brown's body was in the creek under a bridge on Old Pavo Road.

Dewey says deputies did search the area last night, but did not find anything. He says they had a more organized search this morning once daylight broke, but that has turned up anything either.

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UPDATED 12noon, 4.01.10 by Julie Montanaro

A Thomas County grand jury has indicted Elijah James on arson charges in the torching of Danielle Brown's car.

A bond hearing is now set for April 14th at 9:30am. Prosecutor Jim Prine says he intends to ask the judge to continue holding James without bond.

James is a person of interest in Brown's disappearance, but at this point he has only been charged with setting her car on fire at a dump in Pavo, Georgia.

Brown has been missing since February 5th. Leon County detectives consider her disappearance a homicide, but they have not found her body despite searches in Leon, Jefferson and Thomas Counties.

A spokesman for the Thomas County Sheriff's Office confirms today that deputies are following up on a tip called in last night. Steve Jones says deputies are searching an area off Little Flock Road in Brooks County, about four miles from the county line.

No word yet on what, if anything, they've found.
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Updated 11:30a.m 4-1

WCTV has confirmed someone called deputies with a tip Wednesday night and now officials are searching near Little Flock Road in Brooks County for any sign of Danielle Brown.

We will bring you more information as soon as it becomes available.
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Updated 9a.m 4-1

A Thomas County, Georgia grand jury has indicted Elijah James for arson.

James is the person of interest in the disappearance of Danielle Brown.

James is facing arson charges for torching Brown's car and abandoning it in a Pavo, Georgia dump.

Brown disappeared February 5th and was last seen leaving her home with James.

Detectives have called Brown's disappearance a homicide but her body has not been found.
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Updated 2:30p.m 3-19

Person of interest Elijah James has been denied bond for arson charges. James is accused of setting fire to Danielle Brown's car.

He will remain in the Thomas County Jail.

Authorities are still searching for Brown's body or any evidence related to her disappearance.

We will bring you more information as soon as it becomes available.
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UPDATE 7pm by Julie Montanaro

As Elijah James shuffled into court for his arraignment Thursday afternoon, searchers continued to brave the wind, rain and mud trying to find the body of Danielle Brown.

They're at if for the third day this week wrapping up in Jefferson County and crossing the state line into Thomas County.

Airboats hovered above the waters of Lake Miccosukkee Thursday, snaking among the cypress trees, checking shores and coves for any sign of Danielle Brown.

Morgan Scurry was surprised to see them at one of his favorite fishing spots.

"I would think that they would search everywhere, you know, everywhere they possibly can so they can find her," Scurry said.

"With the airboats, we're able to get along the lilly pads and across the dollar weeds and stuff like that to get pretty close," said Officer Chris Jones with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

About 85 law officers in Florida and another 25 across the line in Georgia are fanning out checking roads and back roads from Monticello to Thomasville, Pavo, Beachton, Boston and beyond.

Thomas County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Steve Jones said today deputies were concentrating on "Highway 19, Georgia 33 or Boston-Monticello Road and county roads in that area."

They're making tracks on any and all possible routes person of interest Elijah James may have taken in the two days following Brown's disappearance.

Seeing Brown's father at the command post each day is a grim, but motivating reminder of the importance this painstaking search.

"You know, as a father myself that kinda touches home, you know, if one of my children were missing," said SGT Pascal Autrey.

The search has wrapped up for the day ... and for the week.

Friday, Danielle Brown will have been missing for six weeks.

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UPDATE 3:30pm by Julie Montanaro

Elijah James appeared before a judge in Thomas County this afternoon wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and handcuffs. He was supposed to be arraigned on arson charges. He's accused of torching and abandoning Danielle Brown's car at a Pavo dump last month.

Thomas County Chief Magistrate Andy Seary postponed that arraignment until Friday at 2pm after James requested a lawyer.

James had been in the Leon County Jail since February 8th, when he was arrested on the arson charges.

The search for Danielle Brown, meanwhile, continued in Jefferson and Thomas counties today.

FWC officers on airboats scoured the shorelines of Lake Miccosukkee and deputies on four wheelers prowled roadsides along Highway 19 and 33, both north and south of the state line. Others made tracks in the Georgia clay, checking less traveled dirt roads like the 12 Mile Post Road for any evidence or signs of Brown.

Brown's father was at the command post at the Jefferson County Kennel Club. He greeted and thanked the men and women searching, as he has done at the start of each search.

A sergeant with the Thomas County Sheriff's Office says seeing Danielle Brown's father there really hits home for him. He has a daughter too. Every day he searches, he says, he hopes will be the day they find Danielle and can give the family some closure.
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Updated 11:08a.m 3-18 by Julie Montanaro:

Elijah James has been extradited to Georgia to face arson charges.

A Spokesman with the Thomas County Sheriff's Office says deputies picked James up from the Leon County Jail Wednesday night and transported him to the Thomas County jail.

He will be arraigned before a magistrate later this afternoon.
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Updated 8:55a.m 3-18

LCSO Press Release:

Law enforcement officers with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Florida Wildlife Commission, along with Firefighters with the Tallahassee Fire Department will be conducting a search operation in northern Jefferson County and southern Thomas County.

This operation is part of the on-going investigative efforts to recover Danielle Brown or any evidence related to her disappearance.

Thursday's search will focus on the areas of US19 North, Boston Highway, Lake Road between US19 North and West Lake Road. The command post for this operation is located at 3079 North Jefferson Street (Jefferson County Kennel Club).

There is a $5,000 reward for information which leads to the location of Danielle and the circumstances which led to her disappearance.

Anyone with information about the disappearance of Danielle Brown is asked to contact the Leon County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 922-3300 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS.Tips may also be submitted by visiting the Danielle Brown web page at www.leoncountyso.com.
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UPDATE 3.17.10 7pm by Julie Montanaro

The search for a missing Tallahassee woman continued across the county line today in Jefferson County.

Danielle Brown disappeared nearly six weeks ago and now deputies are trying to retrace the tracks that her ex-boyfriend may have made in the hours after her disappearance.

Dozens of deputies in fatigues and raincoats blanketed Jefferson County searching for Danielle Brown or any evidence that may have been tossed aside in the haste to dispose of her body and belongings.

Residents of Lloyd can hardly believe a manhunt like this is unfolding in their tiny town.

"This is a very quiet community for something like that to happen. It's totally outrageous you know cause I mean people still leave their doors unlocked around here," said Greg Roseberry who lives in Lloyd.

"From Wacissa to Lloyd to Miccosukkee to Monticello and all the little bitty areas all around here that have been ... I hope they find her alive but the chances are very slim," Jefferson County resident Nikki Hall said.

A pair of white flowered flip flops nestled in the grass along highway 59 in Lloyd. Deputies spotted them Wednesday afternoon and quickly photographed them and bagged them as evidence.

Only time will tell if they are linked to the disappearance of Danielle Brown or if they were tossed aside by someone else.

Divers also searched Lloyd Creek, a once popular swimming hole, that in some places is up to 20 feet deep. The good news? Visibility is a foot or more. The bad? There was no keeping warm today.

The search stretched into this county after ex-boyfriend and person of interest Elijah James showed up here in the hours after Brown's disappearance. Law officers are hoping James left a trail of his own behind.

"Now that we're in Jefferson County and the citizens learned that we're looking here it may trigger a response from somebody that might have seen something earlier. If we get any of those calls we'll be glad to respond to them," said Jefferson County Sheriff David Hobbs.

More than 100 law enforcement officers helped with the search Tuesday. About 50 participated today.

The search is likely to continue in northern Jefferson County tomorrow.

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Updated 1:11p.m 3-17

LCSO Press Release:

For the second day law enforcement officers with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Florida Wildlife Commission, along with Firefighters with the Tallahassee Fire Department will be conducting a search operation in Jefferson County.

This operation is part of the on-going investigative efforts to recover Danielle Brown or any evidence related to her disappearance.

Today’s search area will continue to focus on western Jefferson County; State Road 59 between US 90 and Highway 27 and the Wacissa and Waukeenah communities.

The command post for this operation is located at 3079 North Jefferson Street (Jefferson County Kennel Club).

There is a $5,000 reward for information which leads to the location of Danielle and the circumstances which led to her disappearance.

Anyone with information about the disappearance of Danielle Brown is asked to contact the Leon County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 922-3300 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS.Tips may also be submitted by visiting the Danielle Brown web page at www.leoncountyso.com.
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UPDATED 3.16.10 6:40pm by Julie Montanaro

The search for a missing Tallahassee woman expanded Tuesday as crews scoured the woods and waters of Jefferson County.

So far, they haven't yielded any new clues.

Divers tangled with roots and grasses in Wade Creek. They could see only inches front of their faces, but continued to look for Danielle Brown or any evidence that may have been thrown over the bridge.

"Hopefully we can locate her. But (we are looking for) anything that might lead us to that conclusion. We're all anxious to conclude this investigation, mostly for the family," Jefferson County Sheriff David Hobbs said.

Danielle Brown disappeared February 5th and deputies believe she's dead.

More than 100 law enforcement officers descended on southern Jefferson County Tuesday looking for her body, her clothes, her purse or plates missing from her car.

Detectives say they have information that puts person of interest Elijah James in this area in the wee hours after Brown disappeared.

"We're not going to get into the specifics of what those leads are, but we're confident that he was in Jefferson County on the 6th and 7th," LCSO Spokesman Tony Drzewiecki said.

The search for Danielle Brown has covered three counties in two states starting with a search near James's mother's home in Miccosukkee, Florida ... up to a city dump site in Pavo, Georgia where Brown's car was found torched and abandoned ... to the Thomas County landfill ... and now to Wacissa, Waukeenah and Capps in Jefferson County.

The only surprise in Jefferson County so far were some bones in Wade Creek, but deputies say they appear to be the discarded carcases of deer that didn't survive hunting season.

An LCSO Spokesman says deputies did bag several items as evidence Tuesday, but have no way of knowing yet if they are linked to Brown's disappearance.

The agencies will continue their search in Jefferson County Wednesday, this time focusing on the northern end of the county.

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Updated 1:p.m 3-16 by LCSO Press Release:

Tuesday morning the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies began a large scale search of portions of western Jefferson County for Danielle Brown and evidence related to her disappearance.

Law Enforcement Officers with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Wildlife Commission, along with Firefighters with the Tallahassee Fire Department will be assisting in this search operation.

This search will include law enforcement officers and volunteers on foot.

The search will also utilize Air Support, Mounted Units, Dive Teams and units searching waterways in boats. This operation is part of the on-going investigative efforts to recover Danielle Brown or any evidence related to her disappearance.

“I would like to thank Thomas County Sheriff Carlton Powell, Jefferson County Sheriff David Hobbs and the many other state and local law enforcement agencies for their unwavering assistance during this investigation” said Sheriff Larry Campbell. “Sheriff Hobbs knowledge of Jefferson County, the citizens and the terrain has been greatly beneficial to this investigation. I appreciate his leadership and support as this large scale search for Danielle moves to Jefferson County.”

“The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has been working diligently with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and will provide whatever investigative assistance required as the search for Danielle Brown continues” said Jefferson County Sheriff David Hobbs.

Today’s search will focus on State Road 59 between US 90 and Highway 27 and the Wacissa and Waukeenah communities.
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Danielle Brown is asked to contact the Leon County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 922-3300 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS. Tips may also be submitted by visiting the Danielle Brown web page at www.leoncountyso.com.
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Updated 12:06p.m 3-16 by Julie Montanaro:

There are a handful of search teams spread out across southern Jefferson County.

A dive team is searching the waters of Ward Creek for any sign of Danielle Brown or any evidence that may have been tossed over the bridge.

Search crews are combing through woods along Highway 59 and Highway 27 near Capps, Wacissa and Waukeenah.

Detectives have evidence that the person of interest in the case, Elijah James, was in this area in the hours after Brown's disappearance.

Deputies have now searched woods and streams in three counties in two states with little luck and they're hoping that changes today.

We will bring you more information as soon as it becomes available.
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The search for the body of a missing Tallahassee woman will continue Tuesday in the woods and waters of Jefferson County.

Danielle Brown disappeared back on February 5th after an argument with her ex-boyfriend Elijah James. Her disappearance has been ruled a homicide, but deputies have not been able to find Brown's body.

Deputies have searched the woods of Miccosukkee, Florida and Beachton, Georgia as well as the Thomas County landfill and a dump site in Pavo, Georgia.

Tuesday, they'll be working with authorities in Jefferson County to try to find any sign of Brown there.

Deputies say they have evidence that Brown's car was in Jefferson County the night Brown disappeared (1:30am - 4am Saturday) as well as evidence that James was there the next day (9am-2pm Sunday).

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LCSO Press Release:

Since the search for Danielle Brown began law enforcement officers, with many agencies, and citizen volunteers have searched large areas of Leon County, Florida and Thomas County, Georgia. Other locations have also been searched as investigative leads have been received. These search efforts have resulted in evidence being recovered.
As reported on February 18, 2010, Detectives have placed Danielle Brown’s vehicle in Jefferson County on Saturday, February 6, 2010, and Sunday, February 7, 2010. Detectives have developed investigative leads which place Danielle’s vehicle in the Wacissa and Waukeenah communities of Jefferson County sometime between 1:30a.m. and 4:00a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2010. Information has also been obtained which place Elijah James in Jefferson County on Sunday, February 7, 2010, between 9:00a.m. and 2:00p.m.
Due to these investigative leads a search for Danielle Brown and evidence related her disappearance will be conducted tomorrow in Jefferson County. With the assistance and support of Jefferson County Sheriff David Hobbs, and JCSO Detectives, several areas of interest have been identified and will be part of the search area.
For more information about this search operation and media assistance please make contact with me (Sgt. Tony Drzewiecki) at the Joint Information Center (JIC) located at the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center in Jefferson County. The JIC will be operational at 10:00a.m. (Directions: From the Florida Capitol take Highway 27 South (Apalachee Parkway) east into Jefferson County. At US19 take a left and the entrance to the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center will be clearly marked.)
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Danielle Brown is asked to contact the Leon County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 922-3300 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS. Tips may also be submitted by visiting the Danielle Brown web page at www.leoncountyso.com.