By CHASE SQUIRES
Staff Writer

UNION, S.C. (10/31/94) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation Saturday brought the same high-tech equipment used to crack the World Trade Center bombing to Union in hopes of finding Michael and Alexander Smith, missing since Tuesday.

The FBI brought its Rapid Start Unit computer system from Washington, D.C., to the law enforcement command post to compile and track the thousands of tips and leads pouring in from all over North America.

Special Agent Don Vilfer said the computer technology -- a network of specially developed software and laptop and desktop computers -- should help investigators categorize and store the tidal wave of information coming in. If the computer spots patterns in the information, it can alert law enforcement and help them focus the search.

The Rapid Star Unit -- developed about 18 months ago -- was used in the hours following the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City and on dozens of missing children cases with great success, Vilfer said.

"We'll take all of the information that comes in from hotlines, any information that comes in from street investigators, from FBI agents, it all goes into a central data base," Vilfer said. "Additionally we're drawing information from other public sources, sources available from our data centers, maybe information from other cases."

Sheriff Howard Wells said the system should help speed the search.

"If a tip comes in, and we've already received one of a like nature, we'll be able to ascertain from that lead quickly if it's going to be something we're going to need to work on," Wells said.

Vilfer said his special unit brought in eight FBI agents. Special Agent in Charge Jim Oppy said the FBI now has 16 to 20 agents on the case at any given time.

"The name does not always appear magically on the screen and give the answer," Vilfer said of the computer network. "The officers who are out there doing the interviews, talking to people, that's still going to be the crux of the investigation. We just help direct that into the most profitable avenue."

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