Post by LadyBlue on Sept 28, 2004 12:27:15 GMT -5
The state's new cold case unit got off to a high-profile start when investigators unearthed evidence in the 1971 case of two missing high school girls from Vermillion.
Investigators searched a Union County farm last month for clues in the disappearance of Sherri Miller and Pamella Jackson. Among the items recovered were bones and bone fragments, pieces of painted metal, clothing, photos, a purse, rubber gloves and letters.
But members of the eight-person team, which was formed in June, say much of their work is more routine and depends on old-fashioned detective work.
One key to cracking a decades-old case is giving it a new look, said Mike Braley, a special agent for the state Division of Criminal Investigation.
"We will actually go back and build this case from the ground up, redoing a lot of what was done before," said Braley. "Sometimes we don't learn anything new. Sometimes we learn new information, sometimes people look at it with a fresh eye."
Repeated review of the same piece of information sometimes will reveal a tiny piece of the puzzle, adds Trevor Jones, assistant director of the state Division of Criminal Investigation in Pierre.
"It might not seem like a big deal when (the) case started," said Jones. "But now when you get a collective look at it from several different angles ... it may be crucial."
New technology such as DNA testing and South Dakota's growing DNA database are also a help in solving old cases.
"Using new technology to look at old cases is such an integral part of cold case investigations, said Kevin Thom, director of the state DCI.
A $23 million crime lab being built in Pierre is another tool for detectives, officials said. The project will enlarge the current lab and provide room for the latest technology.
"We can get evidence submitted and tested, evidence you couldn't submit and test 30 years ago," said Jones.
Along with the lab, technology in the field can make a difference, too.
Steve Feimer, a University of South Dakota political science professor and retired police officer, brought magnetometer to the farm where investigators searched for clues in the 1971 case so detectives would know where to dig for evidence.
It marked the first time such a device has been used in a criminal case in South Dakota.
"This is a multi-disciplined approach to solving a crime," said Feimer. "Certainly archaeology people and earth science know about looking underground more than people in law enforcement do, because that's their study."
In the end, though, the team's work comes down to helping families of victims, said Braley.
"It's letting the families of the victims know they're not forgotten. If we can bring some sort of closure to those families I think that's probably the most rewarding for me. My hope is the longer we do it, the better we're going to get at it and the more closure we can bring to those families," he said.
Investigators searched a Union County farm last month for clues in the disappearance of Sherri Miller and Pamella Jackson. Among the items recovered were bones and bone fragments, pieces of painted metal, clothing, photos, a purse, rubber gloves and letters.
But members of the eight-person team, which was formed in June, say much of their work is more routine and depends on old-fashioned detective work.
One key to cracking a decades-old case is giving it a new look, said Mike Braley, a special agent for the state Division of Criminal Investigation.
"We will actually go back and build this case from the ground up, redoing a lot of what was done before," said Braley. "Sometimes we don't learn anything new. Sometimes we learn new information, sometimes people look at it with a fresh eye."
Repeated review of the same piece of information sometimes will reveal a tiny piece of the puzzle, adds Trevor Jones, assistant director of the state Division of Criminal Investigation in Pierre.
"It might not seem like a big deal when (the) case started," said Jones. "But now when you get a collective look at it from several different angles ... it may be crucial."
New technology such as DNA testing and South Dakota's growing DNA database are also a help in solving old cases.
"Using new technology to look at old cases is such an integral part of cold case investigations, said Kevin Thom, director of the state DCI.
A $23 million crime lab being built in Pierre is another tool for detectives, officials said. The project will enlarge the current lab and provide room for the latest technology.
"We can get evidence submitted and tested, evidence you couldn't submit and test 30 years ago," said Jones.
Along with the lab, technology in the field can make a difference, too.
Steve Feimer, a University of South Dakota political science professor and retired police officer, brought magnetometer to the farm where investigators searched for clues in the 1971 case so detectives would know where to dig for evidence.
It marked the first time such a device has been used in a criminal case in South Dakota.
"This is a multi-disciplined approach to solving a crime," said Feimer. "Certainly archaeology people and earth science know about looking underground more than people in law enforcement do, because that's their study."
In the end, though, the team's work comes down to helping families of victims, said Braley.
"It's letting the families of the victims know they're not forgotten. If we can bring some sort of closure to those families I think that's probably the most rewarding for me. My hope is the longer we do it, the better we're going to get at it and the more closure we can bring to those families," he said.