Natalie Morales

The rest of the base's immense acreage, almost 71,000 acres in total, was taken up by vast military training areas, including airfields and shooting ranges.

The rest of the base's immense acreage, almost 71,000 acres in total, was taken up by vast military training areas, including airfields and shooting ranges.

The rest of the base's immense acreage, almost 71,000 acres in total, was taken up by vast military training areas, including airfields and shooting ranges.

In the early 2000s, the majority of units in the Marine Corps deploying to Iraq trained here. Not too far from the base's residential area, there was a sandy stretch protected by mountains named Mini Baghdad. But when Erin moved to the base, her entire world shrunk to those few miles right inside the gated entrance.

In the early 2000s, the majority of units in the Marine Corps deploying to Iraq trained here. Not too far from the base's residential area, there was a sandy stretch protected by mountains named Mini Baghdad. But when Erin moved to the base, her entire world shrunk to those few miles right inside the gated entrance.

In the early 2000s, the majority of units in the Marine Corps deploying to Iraq trained here. Not too far from the base's residential area, there was a sandy stretch protected by mountains named Mini Baghdad. But when Erin moved to the base, her entire world shrunk to those few miles right inside the gated entrance.

In such close quarters, Special Agent Randolph said he got to know his neighbors well.

In such close quarters, Special Agent Randolph said he got to know his neighbors well.

In such close quarters, Special Agent Randolph said he got to know his neighbors well.

In his office, Special Agent Randolph got to work. His first step was to take what the Sheriff's Department knew and ask himself, what don't we know?

In his office, Special Agent Randolph got to work. His first step was to take what the Sheriff's Department knew and ask himself, what don't we know?

In his office, Special Agent Randolph got to work. His first step was to take what the Sheriff's Department knew and ask himself, what don't we know?

Special Agent Randolph had questions. What if Erin didn't go where she said she was headed? What if she just got on the highway and drove? But what if she actually was at Joshua Tree National Park? The park is larger than the state of Rhode Island. How could they ever comb through nearly a million acres of land? Special Agent Randolph thought through all the possibilities with one main focus.

Special Agent Randolph had questions. What if Erin didn't go where she said she was headed? What if she just got on the highway and drove? But what if she actually was at Joshua Tree National Park? The park is larger than the state of Rhode Island. How could they ever comb through nearly a million acres of land? Special Agent Randolph thought through all the possibilities with one main focus.

Special Agent Randolph had questions. What if Erin didn't go where she said she was headed? What if she just got on the highway and drove? But what if she actually was at Joshua Tree National Park? The park is larger than the state of Rhode Island. How could they ever comb through nearly a million acres of land? Special Agent Randolph thought through all the possibilities with one main focus.

There was one big problem working against the NCIS agents and Erin. Time.

There was one big problem working against the NCIS agents and Erin. Time.

There was one big problem working against the NCIS agents and Erin. Time.

So Special Agent Randolph dispatched a team of NCIS experts.

So Special Agent Randolph dispatched a team of NCIS experts.