>> you just have to be strong and just pray for the best. >> reporter: and now family and friends were not alone in the search for kenia. a veteran denver police detective named nash gurule started looking too. to say detective gurule is imposing is perhaps an understatement. looks more like a character from "the sopranos." but hates when children go missing. >> i wanted to find her. i wanted to give her family closure. i wanted to give the city of denver closure. i was determined to bring her home. i was determined to bring her home. >> reporter: also assigned to the case was deputy d.a. kerri lombardi. >> we had to do something. and time was of the essence because she they were still hoping she was alive. >> reporter: they focused first of course on the good samaritan, the guy who'd given kenia a ride, travis forbes. he was 31, they discovered, had a rap sheet for theft and drugs.