Evidence: Report on K-9 unit's search of Hartigan property

Investigators employed cadaver dogs to determine whether any human remains were present on the Hartigan property. The Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department does not have any K-9 teams trained in locating human remains, so the Lee County (MS) Sheriff's Department cooperated with the YCSD to provide two of their K-9 teams for a search of the proprety.

The Lee County Sheriff's K-9 Unit submitted the following report on the search results to Detectives Murphy and Armstrong after the completion of the search efforts.

Forensic Evidence/Body Recovery Summary Report Lee County (MS) Sheriff's Department 510 N Commerce Street * Tupelo, Mississippi 38801 * (662)841-XXXX
Report Date:	3/21/2005		Search #:	05-479-01311

Requesting Agency:	Yoknapatawpha County (MS) Sheriff's Department
Agency Address:	715 Molly Barr Road Oxford, MS		Case #:	000181-15A-2005
Agency Contact Name:	Detective Sam Murphy		Phone #:	662-234-XXXX

Search Location:	1315 Mesquite Drive, Oxford, MS
Search Date(s):	3/18/2005, 3/19/2005
K-9 Team Members:	Officer Ellen Bigelow & K-9 Mike Officer Barry Caruthers & K-9 Duke
Total Hours Searched:	36.6	Total Search Area Size:		2.39 acres

Narrative of Search Effort: After consulting with Detectives Murphy and Armstrong about the search requirements, it was decided to use a combination of free search and grid search approaches to cover the target search area. The search was conducted over a period of two days with two K-9 teams. 3/18/2005 Team leader met with representatives of the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department at the search location to scout the area and develop a search plan. Search day #1 began at 8:00 a.m. at the search location. Dogs were acclimated and commenced the search. Search efforts focused on the main grounds including buildings and outbuildings, and the immediately surrounding wooded area to the north. A passive alert was reported during the search day in the vicinity of the pool house, but the second team did not confirm the alert nor was any source of the alert located. The alert was classified as false. Search efforts were terminated for the day at 6:00 p.m. 3/19/2005 Search day #2 began at 8:00 a.m. at the search location. Dogs were acclimated and commenced the search. Search efforts focused on wooded area abutting the main grounds to the north. A passive alert was reported at 10:47 a.m. approximately 117 feet NNE of the pool house. The second team confirmed the alert and the location was marked for follow up by CSU and the Coroner's Office. The alert was classified as true. A second passive alert was reported at 1:22 p.m. approximately 98 feet NE of the pool house, but the other team did not confirm the alert nor was any source of the alert located. The alert was classified as false. A third passive alert was reported at 4:30 p.m. approximately 225 feet NNW of the pool house. The second team confirmed the alert and the location was marked for follow up by CSU and the Coroner's Office. The alert was classified as true. Search efforts were terminated at 6:15 p.m. The entire target search area had been completely covered at the end of search day #2 and the search was terminated. The opinion of the K-9 Unit is that human remains are present in two locations on the property searched: 117 feet NNE of the pool house and 225 feet NNW of the pool house.

Items Found: Two positive alerts -- 117 feet NNE of the pool house and 225 feet NNW of the pool house. Both locations pending excavation and examination by Yoknapatawpha County CSU and Coroner's Office personnel.

Areas of Interest: The grounds surrounding the residence and outbuildings; the outbuilding known as the pool house; the wooded area north of the residence and pool house.

Areas Not Covered: None
Report Submitted by:	Officer Kevin Blount, Canine Team Leader