<□>□e□pite th□ mou□ting evid□nce and th□orie□,□the se□rc□ □or □□□□□□ssi□g nine contin□ed without□any concrete lead□□ The is□and remained a□bleak□an□ desola□e □lace, e□hoing with □he□una□swered ques□io□s and hauntin□ memo□ie□ of the gr□up's sudden d□sap□earance. As □a□□ turned □□to week□, ho□e for th□ir s□fe re□ur□ st□□ted to dwindle, □eaving□be□ind a □hroud of uncer□a□nty and sadne□s.