On January 14, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office issued a missing person bulletin for Britney Anderson Watson, who had been missing since January 7.

Officers locate Kevin Watson’s vehicle in the Big Eddy area.

On January 20, HCSO arrested Kevin Watson for First Degree Murder.

Officers discovered a body near Watson’s home.

People wonder why these cases take time. Here are a few real-life factors that may impact the length of the investigation:

The existence of a high-profile case does not keep other crimes from happening. Thefts, robberies, assaults, burglaries, and car crashes do not take a holiday.

The weather may postpone search efforts.

Identifying and locating possible witnesses and people who may have needed information is more complex than calling them up on the phone. Believe it or not, some of them may want to avoid talking to the police! These folks must be contacted discreetly and interviewed in some strange places. It’s a safe bet they will want to avoid coming by the investigator’s office or meeting at the local coffee shop.

Police must take care to collect the evidence legally and in a fashion so that it is not contaminated. Its value is limited if they can’t admit the evidence in court.

Obtaining search or arrest warrants takes time, as does meeting with prosecutors.

Coordinating efforts with other agencies can be complicated.

Hard work and persistence solve these cases. When working a case involving an abducted victim or a person presenting a threat to the community, an officer’s end of shift comes and goes without notice. The shift ends only when the work is finished.

The success of this operation would not have been possible without the help and cooperation of the community.

Jim Leach is a retired Special Agent in Charge with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). He has worked in law enforcement for 40 years. He has launched a successful training company, and his books can be purchased at booksbyleach.com