By REGINALD FIELDS
Staff Writer

UNION, S.C. (11/1/94) -- Police had no solid leads to follow and nothing to search Monday for the first time since two Union County toddlers disappeared last week, prompting officials to plan new ways to investigate the puzzling incident.

Union County Sheriff Howard Wells said late Monday night that authorities will search the vicinity of the alleged kidnapping site today.

"We are going to be searching along the path we believe the vehicle took after (the carjacker) got in the car," Wells said. The search will proceed to John D. Long Lake.

As local, state and federal law officers stepped back to regroup Monday, citizens began to question the story told by the children's mother after last Tuesday's disappearance.

Wells said during an afternoon news conference Monday that efforts to find Michael Smith, 3, and his 14-month-old brother, Alexander, will proceed "full bore." Wells said authorities might offer a reward.

FBI agent Jim Oppy said talk of the federal agency pulling out of the search were just "false rumors."

The boys' mother, Susan V. Smith, reported that a carjacker jumped in her car at a traffic light in Monarch Mill on Oct. 25 as she was driving to visit a male friend. She said after a short drive, the carjacker forced her out and drove off with her two boys in the back seat.

It has since been reported that Smith failed a polygraph test, an allegation Wells will not confirm.

Also on Monday, a national television program reported the friend Smith was planning to visit, Mitch Sinclair of Turner Avenue, Monarch Mill, admitted to doing poorly on a polygraph test he was given by investigators.

Sinclair was at Smith's parents' home in Union Monday night and Sinclair would not comment on his statement to "A Current Affair" that the test "didn't go well."

Sinclair's brother, Patrick Sinclair, said he is sure Mitch had nothing to do with the carjacking and the disappearance of the children.

"I think the kids are hidden somewhere, but my brother didn't do it," 17-year-old Patrick Sinclair said. "If he did, then that's some crazy stuff."

Mitch Sinclair said on the television show that he and Smith have been dating.

Patrick Sinclair said his brother and Smith are close friends and that Sinclair would often visit the children.

Wells will not say if authorities have any suspects. But he has said no one, including family members, have been ruled out as possible suspects.

"We have interviewed a lot of people," Wells said from his office Monday. "But we haven't been going out and bringing them in. We have allowed them to come in here and talk to us."

The Smiths, who have not spoken publicly with the media since Thursday, will hold a news conference this morning at the Union County Sheriff's Office.

Many residents who say they believed Susan Smith's story last week now say they believe the woman had something to do with her children's disappearance.

"It's a hoax," said Howard Free of Union. "It's just a joke. I think the mother knows something about it all and I think that's the way about 95 percent of the people down here think."

Kathy Smith said her thoughts began to sway when authorities continued to report having no clues or sightings of the missing car.

"Nobody just vanishes," Smith said. "I mean he's got to stop for gas or something. This just isn't all adding up. The mother knows something. But I don't think she hurt those kids."

"I don't think the mother hurt those babies, but she knows more than she is telling," said Roberta Gathings. "I want to believe her, but I've been reading between the lines and it just doesn't add up."

Nearly everyone linked their theory to the marital breakup between Smith and her husband, David Smith. Susan Smith filed for divorce in September citing adultery. The couple has held vigil together since the disappearace of their sons.

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