New Hampshire state police returned to 115 Trescott road yesterday -- a week after the Zantops were murdered there -- to question passers-by in an attempt to shed new light on the investigation.
Despite this appeal, Senior Assistant Attorney General Kelly Ayotte called the tactic "being thorough," and repeated that investigators are not short on leads but are moving through the ones they receive systematically and methodically.
She said the police continue to hold the Zantop residence.
Ayotte again said that an arrest is not imminent.
Since the double homicide, which sent shock waves through the community last weekend, investigators have released little information about their progress.
"The commitment of the state of New Hampshire to resolving this case remains steadfast," Ayotte said.
Col. Gary Sloper of the New Hampshire State Police, who came to Hanover to check the progress of the investigation, said in a brief statement that the process is continuing as it has been "from the outset" and will continue "until this matter is solved."
He said that the investigation constituted "a very significant effort," but would not release specific details of the police proceedings.
For the past week, Ayotte and State Attorney General Philip McLaughlin have refused to comment on details relating to the actual murders -- including motive, murder weapon, time of death, specifics of the crime scene and where investigators are searching for information.
And although Ayotte maintained today that she was optimistic with the progress, she said news conferences will be held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday this week, instead of every day.
She said if arrests are made or any other material information develops, her office will arrange other meeting times to convey the information to the public.
At this point the FBI continues to be uninvolved in the case, but the bureau might get involved if its expertise is required.
Yesterday, major media outlets reported that the investigation had moved outside of the United States. Today, Ayotte said to the extent that the Zantops knew people outside of the country, this was true. However, she would not comment on whether local authorities in foreign countries were working in conjunction with New Hampshire investigators.
She also refused to elaborate further on the white sedan that was impounded earlier this week or on the person who allegedly returned it to Thrifty Car Rental at the Manchester Airport, repeating that it was one of many vehicles that was being examined by investigators.
She would not confirm the reports that the driver of the rental car was a middle-aged man with a connection to the University of Arizona.
She also said she would not rank the various vehicles being examined or place more significance on one in particular.
The tape of the Zantop neighbor Audrey McCollum's 911 call was released yesterday. The other 911 call -- which was made from the home by McCollum's daughter, Cindy -- has not been released.
