Nut44x4
11-07-2009, 07:30 AM
Search for body is headed deeper at Pike County, Ind., home
By Lydia X. McCoy
Posted November 6, 2009 at 12:17 a.m.
PETERSBURG, Ind. — A second search warrant issued Thursday evening authorizes Pike County law enforcement officers to dig deeper under the concrete floor of Kerry A. Thomas' garage in their search for the body of a man missing since 1995.
Officers arrested Thomas on Sunday on unrelated charges of possession of an explosive device with intent to kill and possession of an explosive device.
They allege he was plotting to blow up the Pike County Courthouse if he were found guilty in a case that had been scheduled for trial on Wednesday.
He is being held without bond in the Pike County Jail.
The latest search warrant was issued at 8:50 p.m. EST on Thursday on the basis of a sworn statement of an unidentified witness.
That witness, who was not identified for safety concerns, told authorities Thomas said he killed Patrick King for taking guns from him and had buried his body beneath his garage floor.
The search warrant said Thomas told the witness he planned on moving his body from beneath his garage.
King, 32, of Winslow was reported missing in November 1995 after his truck was found abandoned in rural Gibson County north of Oakland City.
Authorities began searching Thomas' property on Meridian Road on Sunday after obtaining a search warrant to look for human remains, hair, clothing, DNA, a belt buckle and other evidence related to King.
During that search, officers discovered items associated with commercial mining activities that could be used as an explosive device.
Among the items found were 3-foot sections of PVC piping, a blasting cap, detonation cord and a cast booster, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Pike County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Britton.
Pike County Sheriff Todd Meadors said as long as they feel there is something there, they will do their best to discover it.
"We ... believe that there's possibly something there, and if we didn't look and do everything possible, that we could not do the King family any justice or anyone any justice," Meadors said. "This is something that hasn't been solved. It would be very nice to discover him and put this mystery to an end."
Pike County Prosecutor Darrin McDonald agreed and worked Thursday to prepare the search warrant to allow officers to dig further into the floor.
"The single biggest issue is the search for human remains," he said. "When you're searching for human remains, you have a responsibility to the family."
After the initial search, investigators "began removal of the concrete surface in the approximate 6- by 3-foot partially chipped-out area breaking through approximately 18 to 20 inches of concrete to an area of pea gravel below," according to court documents.
Officers then interviewed Thomas at the Pike County Jail, telling him what they had found at his home. Thomas told them that "such a concrete pad below the surface and dirt beneath his principal concrete floor was placed there as a result of rinse out from the concrete trucks pouring his driveway when he constructed his residence and shop."
On Monday and Tuesday, law enforcement continued to excavate the area, removing the concrete pad.
"Attached to the underside of the said concrete pad was a section of opaque plastic which had evidently been discarded prior to pouring the said pad," according to the document.
"Beneath the said concrete pad section removed (police) dug several feet further in the soil, locating wooden stakes, candy wrappers and soda cans, giving them cause to believe that the person(s) who poured the said concrete pad had further excavated the area below."
A superintendent from a large local contracting company, who was also not named for safety, also viewed the site and made observations including:
* The concrete surface of (the garage) is at least three times as thick as would be necessary for a machine shop with the equipment in Thomas' garage.
* The concrete pad section that was removed was not finished, such as would be expected had it been left over from a floor from construction prior to Thomas' residence.
* There was no legitimate construction reason for the construction of the concrete pad in that location.
Police also brought in two canine handlers with dogs trained in locating human remains. The first dog gave an affirmative indication for the presence of human remains.
The second made "investigatory swipes toward the concrete pad portion of the excavation but did not give a complete and fully conclusive indication of the presence of human remains," according to the search warrant.
"It's not like you just go in and take a dozer and dig up the concrete," Meadors said.
"I don't know how much time we're going to be out there. ... We want to make sure that we spend enough time there that if there is something, that we do find it."
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/nov/06/search-for-body-is-headed-deeper/
By Lydia X. McCoy
Posted November 6, 2009 at 12:17 a.m.
PETERSBURG, Ind. — A second search warrant issued Thursday evening authorizes Pike County law enforcement officers to dig deeper under the concrete floor of Kerry A. Thomas' garage in their search for the body of a man missing since 1995.
Officers arrested Thomas on Sunday on unrelated charges of possession of an explosive device with intent to kill and possession of an explosive device.
They allege he was plotting to blow up the Pike County Courthouse if he were found guilty in a case that had been scheduled for trial on Wednesday.
He is being held without bond in the Pike County Jail.
The latest search warrant was issued at 8:50 p.m. EST on Thursday on the basis of a sworn statement of an unidentified witness.
That witness, who was not identified for safety concerns, told authorities Thomas said he killed Patrick King for taking guns from him and had buried his body beneath his garage floor.
The search warrant said Thomas told the witness he planned on moving his body from beneath his garage.
King, 32, of Winslow was reported missing in November 1995 after his truck was found abandoned in rural Gibson County north of Oakland City.
Authorities began searching Thomas' property on Meridian Road on Sunday after obtaining a search warrant to look for human remains, hair, clothing, DNA, a belt buckle and other evidence related to King.
During that search, officers discovered items associated with commercial mining activities that could be used as an explosive device.
Among the items found were 3-foot sections of PVC piping, a blasting cap, detonation cord and a cast booster, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Pike County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Britton.
Pike County Sheriff Todd Meadors said as long as they feel there is something there, they will do their best to discover it.
"We ... believe that there's possibly something there, and if we didn't look and do everything possible, that we could not do the King family any justice or anyone any justice," Meadors said. "This is something that hasn't been solved. It would be very nice to discover him and put this mystery to an end."
Pike County Prosecutor Darrin McDonald agreed and worked Thursday to prepare the search warrant to allow officers to dig further into the floor.
"The single biggest issue is the search for human remains," he said. "When you're searching for human remains, you have a responsibility to the family."
After the initial search, investigators "began removal of the concrete surface in the approximate 6- by 3-foot partially chipped-out area breaking through approximately 18 to 20 inches of concrete to an area of pea gravel below," according to court documents.
Officers then interviewed Thomas at the Pike County Jail, telling him what they had found at his home. Thomas told them that "such a concrete pad below the surface and dirt beneath his principal concrete floor was placed there as a result of rinse out from the concrete trucks pouring his driveway when he constructed his residence and shop."
On Monday and Tuesday, law enforcement continued to excavate the area, removing the concrete pad.
"Attached to the underside of the said concrete pad was a section of opaque plastic which had evidently been discarded prior to pouring the said pad," according to the document.
"Beneath the said concrete pad section removed (police) dug several feet further in the soil, locating wooden stakes, candy wrappers and soda cans, giving them cause to believe that the person(s) who poured the said concrete pad had further excavated the area below."
A superintendent from a large local contracting company, who was also not named for safety, also viewed the site and made observations including:
* The concrete surface of (the garage) is at least three times as thick as would be necessary for a machine shop with the equipment in Thomas' garage.
* The concrete pad section that was removed was not finished, such as would be expected had it been left over from a floor from construction prior to Thomas' residence.
* There was no legitimate construction reason for the construction of the concrete pad in that location.
Police also brought in two canine handlers with dogs trained in locating human remains. The first dog gave an affirmative indication for the presence of human remains.
The second made "investigatory swipes toward the concrete pad portion of the excavation but did not give a complete and fully conclusive indication of the presence of human remains," according to the search warrant.
"It's not like you just go in and take a dozer and dig up the concrete," Meadors said.
"I don't know how much time we're going to be out there. ... We want to make sure that we spend enough time there that if there is something, that we do find it."
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/nov/06/search-for-body-is-headed-deeper/