The call had come in around 10pm that night...Sharon and Larry had received a call from the State Police about bringing the dogs to help find a victim. We had planned to do a compass workshop the next day, so I knew that everyone would be available. 8 am. Meet at Pat's place.

The weather has been so wet and hot already and today would be no different. I planned wet "Kool Beds" for the dogs. I froze water in the bottles and topped with liquid...it might last half the day. Water, Soda, and Gatorade were in the cooler for man and beast. Load the dogs and equipment and off we set.

The clouds where thick and we ran in and out of rain. Today Ray (the hubby) got to go. He acts as my flanker when I work two dogs. It would be Magic's first real search as a cadaver dog. I was excited.

The town we drove to is one of the pretty little backcountry type, common in Arkansas and made up of nice folks. I tried to picture this murder in the midst of the lovely mountains and clear mountain lakes. It was hard.

The briefing was by the Sheriff's deputy and then by the State Police. They would let us go out with the Sheriff's deputies and follow later. We would go to the crime scene and then check two other places that might yield some clues.

Almost 25, he had been shot and dragged off 20 feet and left to die. The 17 yr. old girl was missing. They were treating it as a double murder and did not think she was part of his murder. Five days they had been missing and the rain and high temps would be against us for tracks, but good working for the dogs to air scent.

First we ask Fox and Pete the Vizula to do an "article" sweep, but both take us straight to the crime scene to alert on the remains of the boy. The body was already recovered, but the smell and body liquids are still in place. We check the ground around the body for shell castings from the murder weapon. Nothing. Fox is crazy "touching" and grumbling over "Fred"...we move on with a "Find More" command. I take him back to the "car" area and he goes back to work.  Once more to the body area, but from a different direction.  Back to the car area. He keeps hitting at the water and ground...Blood was everywhere and we have the "primary" scene of the murder. The dogs move on, but don't find any bullets...we do find a hair ribbon and they bag it just in case.

When you do a crime scene...you never know if it was there before the murder or even after...this was old and weathered, but worth the check. The area is a dead end and often used as a "Lovers Lane" by locals. In the middle of thick woods, it was land owned by the Lumber company. Once we had completed the sweep, we divided into sectors. Ralph and Bubba are the prime cadaver dogs with size enough to search larger heavy terrain. The Lab, Skye, would work with Marty and her dog, Rufus. Michelle will flank for them. She and Beth are new to the search team and need to work with another of the team to gain experience. I send them East. Ray will be my backup and I take the West. We will all check both sides of the road and go at least a mile or longer in each direction. Ralph will over run us in the woods. He works well with the Schips. Sharon with Bubba and Pete will over run the second team. This is double checking for all of us.

We walk to our starting point and Magic has picked up the scent of "Fred"...we pass it by on the flexi...our job is down the road a 1/4 mile where we will start our sweeps. This is now Ralph's area and he is hard at work.

I release the dogs and they take off running (play time) but soon settle at a trot into and out of the woods...both sides. They disappear deep in and back, to run and get a cookie. Off they go and each takes a side. I love to watch this team. The day is hot and the rain of earlier is gone. I wish for the cooling clouds as the sun is heating the humid air with no breeze to move it across the scents.  I come to a side road and they come back to me for a "Check It"..each goes deep into the weeds on the old log road. It is blocked and not passable by car. They return, and we proceed on the main road.

Time and again we check the off side roads. Nothing. Soon the sound of a truck reaches my ears and I call the Schips back...they get so into search, they will run right into a car. It is Ray's job to flag and stop a car before it gets into my sector...we explain the reason to the Deputy and then hold the boys while they pass. Next comes two four wheelers and Fox and Magic beg for a ride!! (most likely a chase!) The day is hot and we walk the road to a Y and then check a short way into both main roads. I can see that the wheelers have been there too, so we turn back.  It is about a mile and a half into the woods...the Schips are hot and we give water often. They had found several places where rain had collected and gone swimming! Cool and tired, I notice Fox has a limp. I check his pads, and see nothing. It doesn't slow him down. We find nothing, but can at least say where she isn't...and that is important, too.

As we get closer to the Van, I find Ralph and Larry.  They also found nothing. We had feared the girl had witnessed the murder and made a run for it, perhaps becoming lost or shot and left deep in the brush. Larry eases that fear.  Ralph is a sector dog, which means he will cover larger areas at a run...he would have found if she had been there.

We load and move onto the first water shed. This is way back in the woods (mountains?) but only a few miles from the crime scene. It was possible that the murders had been someone camped out there at the small rec area, and had taken a wrong road and happened on the young couple. We might find a clue or two here. It was also possible they had taken the girl into the car and driven off to parts unknown.

What we had to offer was where she was NOT again. We divided up and each took a sector again. Some had to drive and check around the far side of the lake. Others would check the steep side of the "dam" in case she had been rolled out and down the weed covered bank. Sharon and her two dogs went that way, Larry and Ralph took the woods to the east, Marty and Beth went below the dam and the surrounding wood...I pulled the cushy job...the water and surrounding rec area.

All the dogs went for a swim first...and Magic went so far out I got nervous. But he was just checking and swam back to me with out a problem. At Least I know the water in that area is clear..no alerts.

Slowly we do the road check and walk around the back of the lake. I thought I'd check even though we knew they would not "carry" a body very far. It was an easy path and they could have made her walk it before killing her. So much woods and so many places to dump a body. The Schips spread out and search well.

On the way back, we find a "smell" and Magic goes off to check it. Fox goes for a drink and checks the water. Magic checks the drainage culvert and road. Both return and move on...I note the spot for a recheck by one of the other dogs.

All meet and talk...I ask Ralph to double check Magic as he is still only a "B" level dog, so off we go...and here comes Bubba..."where ya going Pat" he asks...and tags along as I say find REAP...his word. They both go to the SAME place...we watch as Bubba works the culvert and moves on...animal...not human...no alert.  Same as Magic. Time to go.

Next is the second water shed and we drive a short distance and another beautiful lake is visible. The dogs head straight for the water and swim. Then we again spread out. Beth and Marty take the down side of the dam, Sharon, Larry and myself spread out along the banks...I cross the dam to the far side and alert on a burnt shirt. The dogs sniff scratch and move on to find more...good dog.  I clear the small picnic area and fire pit and head back...they stop and check the shirt again, so I take a stick and mark it out for the police to tag. Just in case.

Well, we all talk and decide to call it a day. It has been 6 hot and long hours. The dogs are tiring and I see the look on Beth's face. She has pulled a hard sector in the heat and she is just recovering from a broken bone in the knee area. I tell her a well done and hug her...she is doing a great job with our team.

Load and drive...we are hot tired and HUNGRY...LOL I want ice cream...so do the others...REWARD ME...LOL (just like my Schips).  The kind and funny Deputy takes pity on us and shows us the dairy bar...BIG piece of Apple Pie and LOTS of ice cream...but first, a cold drink of ice water for us and the dogs. Hey, he picks up the tab too!

We debrief and talk quietly among ourselves and the deputy. They may call us back...ohoh the news team shows up...here we are DIRTY, SWEATY, and EATING...and they want an interview!! Hehe we give it to the other new member..Michelle, who has been Flanker for Ralph and Larry, also for Marty at the crime scene. She does a great job...ahh youth. And she is excited about her TV debut.  LOL She has the poodle, JOJO.

The day is complete and we drive our cool air conditioned cars toward the house. The cell phone rings...let's eat FOOD...so we stop at a fast food place and pig out...ahhhh at least it was fast and hot and I love Fabroli's Pasta. So do the Schips.

Home again. Not as exciting as some, but rewarding. The Schips had worked well, and had there been something to find we would have found it. Magic gets big pats and Fox gets his paws cleaned. I don't see a reason for the slight limp...but give him a aspirin and rub down. He is a good boy, too. Magic has earned an "atta Boy" for his first big search.  He has proved he does understand the search, and can go hours in hot weather and adverse conditions, still doing his job. I know he is fit and sound, so I have done my job.

Pat and the Sarschips hoping this one was not too boring for you...all in the life of a search dog.

[Stories Home]  [Burning Need]  [The Flood]  [Molly]  [Aaron]  [Just Another Day]  [Water Search]  [Mock Search]  [Murder Most Foul]  [Gone Fishing]  [Once Again]  [Cossatot River Search]  [Return to Life]  [Too Old for This]  [Lord Vincent] [Up From The Depths]  [Citizenship]    [Search Schip]  [Marmaduke Search]  [Lilly and Jamie]  [White Water Killer]  [Blood, Sweat 'N Cheers]