FAIRMONT — Two “items of interest” but no human remains were found by Fairmont police during a nearly week-long search of a patch of roadside land in Montana Mines, police said.
The hunt for human remains is believed to be linked to a missing person case, but police, as they have throughout, are staying close-mouthed. Starting last Tuesday and ending Sunday, the search covered nearly an acre of brush next to Montana Road.
Although they did not find any human bones, that’s not a setback for investigators, Chief Mark Hayes said at a Monday press conference.
Checking all credible tips — and the anonymous tip police received last week that prompted the search is still considered a good one, he said — is part of a thorough investigation, Hayes said.
“We gave it our best shot. We’re not discouraged,” he said. “We can take this and build on it” using the results to check other tips that may come in as well as a check on past work.
Sgt. Matt Pigott, the lead detective on the case, said police have two missing person cases: Faith Ann Willis, 21, of Barrackville, who was last seen on the night of Aug. 6, 2005; and that of a man named Spencer Berry. Berry went missing in 1986, Pigott said.
Pigott declined again to say whether the latest search in Montana Mines was for the remains of Willis or Berry. Within months of Willis’ disappearance, police did several searches in the Montana Mines area in connection with her case.
Several of Willis’ relatives stood vigil while detectives cleared the brush and scraped open the earth with small, “bobcat-excavators.” As they do in every major case, police have kept the family informed over the years, Pigott said.
“We did find some ‘items of interest’ that we’re going to send to the West Virginia State Police crime lab for processing,” he said.
He declined to say what was found or on which day it was discovered. The crime lab experts will decide whether the items can be analyzed and, if so, whether they can do the analysis or whether another lab is better equipped to do so, Pigott said.
The decision to clear the ground was based on “hits” or indications of human remains at the site. The hits came from cadaver dogs. The Barbour County Search & Rescue Team and the WV K-9 Search & Rescue Inc. unit donated their dogs and handlers for the search.
Pigott also thanked residents of the hilltop community for supplying the searchers with food and drink.
Also helping were: Richard Helms, Mike Fortney, Mike Chisler and Richard Sypolt of Chisler Inc., Patty and Al Kincaid of Kincaid Construction, MPE Rentals, the U.S. attorney’s office (for liaison with the FBI and the federal Homeland Security department), the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and the county prosecutor’s office, and the State Police.
E-mail Bill Byrd at bbyrd@timeswv.com.
Local News
Related Photos
-
PHOTO BY DANNY SNYDER
Police bring week-long search to end
Two ‘items of interest’ found
- Local News
-
-
Teaching on their level
“I would like to nominate Lois Thibodeau for ‘My Favorite Teacher.’ She is the special needs Pre-K teacher at Watson Elementary School.” This was Kristi Wolford singing the praises of Lois Thibodeau.
-
DHHR requiring additional vaccines for students
Seventh- and 12th-graders who return to class in the fall without certain immunizations will not be allowed to attend school unless they get the required inoculations.
-
Cost of crime
Victim.
You never thought this would be you.
But you are the victim of a nonviolent or violent crime.
After contacting the proper authorities, you may be bewildered as to what happens next. -
More streets to be paved this week
Even more city streets will be paved this week than expected.
City Manager Jay Rogers said the spring paving required fewer tons of asphalt to cover the distance than originally estimated. That means there’s asphalt to spare and more streets are getting paved this spring. -
Bertoletti has 33 pepperoni rolls in only 10 minutes to win
If there’s one Memorial Day tradition that everybody participates in, one way or another, it’s eating.
Maybe it’s at a picnic at one of the many venues scattered across Marion County, enjoying hamburgers, hot dogs, macaroni salad and other seasonal food. -
Assaults, physical or not, affect ‘sense of safety and trust’
An assault of any kind — whether it’s physical or not — can be traumatizing.
“You don’t need to have suffered any cuts or scratches,” said Dr. Ronald Pearse, “but any kind of assault affects your sense of safety and trust.” -
Reasoning Mind excites students
As a teacher, Beverly Stewart has never been more thrilled than when she sees the benefits a newer program has done for her students.
Pleasant Valley Elementary fifth-grade student Calista Muzzapelle worked diligently on her assignments last week, much like she had during her Christmas break. -
Pepperoni roll prize
To someone from out of state, the pepperoni roll might seem like a mystery.
“Is it like a calzone?” they might ask, “or a stromboli?”
Unique to the state of West Virginia, the pepperoni roll represents the Italian heritage of many of the miners in the early 20th century mixed with hardworking Mountaineer common sense. -
BOE seeks land for new middle schools
The Marion County Board of Education is looking at land to build new middle schools in Mannington and Monongah.
If all goes as planned, county voters will see a bond on the November ballot. -
Former WVU coach takes final journey home
Bill Stewart has made his way back home.
The former West Virginia University football coach, who died suddenly earlier this week of a heart attack at 59, was laid to rest Friday in his hometown of New Martinsville. - More Local News Headlines
-
