MINOT (AP) - A South Dakota man brought his bloodhounds to help in the search for 3-year-old Reachelle Smith, missing more than three months, and police said they were checking a flashlight found in his search.

Denny Adams of Conde, S.D., who runs Dakota Territory Search Dogs, has spent the past couple of days searching the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, where a stolen van and the body of 22-year old Leigh Cowen was discovered in late May. Cowen had claimed to be the father of Reachelle, who was last seen at her Minot home May 16.

Adams said Monday the search turned up an "item of interest." Minot Police Sgt. Jason Sundbakken said it was a flashlight that could be from a search party.

"They found it on the refuge," Sundbakken said Tuesday. "If we can link it to anything, we'll do that."

The flashlight was turned over to the Ward County Sheriff's Department, Sundbakken said.

"A flashlight - I don't know how significant that is," said Ward County Sheriff's Detective Paul Metz. "It was found on the refuge not far from where Leigh Cowen's van and he was found."

Metz said authorities "haven't been able to determine ownership" of the flashlight.

"Even if it was (Cowen's), we already knew he was in the area," Metz said.

"There's no such thing as a perfect crime," Adams said during a break Monday from his search of the refuge. "In this case, it seems as though there was a little planning, a little forethought that went into this before it all transpired. Some people might say, 'What a beautiful place for a picnic.' I look at it and say, 'What a place to hide a body or commit a crime.'"

Stephanie Smith, Reachelle's aunt, watched as bloodhounds and search teams worked the area along the Mouse River near the old Silver Bridge crossing.

"We're just trying to find any clues that will help bring Reachelle home," she said. "We're looking for a shirt, any type of clothing. When the search was called off before, it just broke my heart but it kind of made me feel good that we didn't find anything. I don't feel she's out here, but I hope we find something that helps bring her home."

Bloodhounds were put in a small boat Monday along the banks of the Mouse River, but they did not react. Other searches, on banks of lower pools in the refuge, also brought no reaction from the dogs.

"We're not expecting to find a little girl standing in the weeds waving at us," Adams said. "These are reality checks the family has to be prepared for. "

Metz said the upcoming hunting season may turn up some clues.

"If somebody does come across something, they should not disturb it and notify the sheriff's department," he said.

Adams' team, which had taken part in earlier searches as well, met with the Smith family in Carrington about two weeks before returning to the Minot area to resume the search for Reachelle. During the Minot trip, they paid their own expenses other than motel rooms, which were taken care of by the Smith family. Adams planned to leave after Monday's search but vowed to return if any other leads were discovered.

"I thank the whole crew for being here and trying to resolve this situation," said Vita Graham, Reachelle's grandmother. "Finding Reachelle is the main objective."