Metal Detector Recovers Murder Weapons
The tools used for investigating and solving crimes are critical to success in prosecuting offenders. When given the job of searching for important evidence, one of the most important tools used by law enforcement and public safety divers is the underwater metal detector. These highly sensitive detectors routinely help recover weapons used in the commission of a crime, and have been directly responsible for putting many criminals behind bars. In the case of this story, the equipment made a difference pointing to the murderers.
When a 55 year old woman was murdered in California, members of the Sonoma County Sheriffs Department Violent Crimes Unit used underwater metal detectors. The two suspects had allegedly disposed of a knife and gun in a local river, but officers weren’t sure of the exact location. Aquatech performed successful recoveries in the past and was asked for assistance in this case.
Detectives had a vague idea where the weapons were probably thrown, which meant a relatively large area would have to be searched. The conditions at the site were described as, 'a tidal river with a foot and half of water at low tide and two feet of silt,' a difficult environment to locate a weapon. Mr. Tessier determined that the best piece of equipment for the job was the his JW Fisher Pulse 8X metal detector with boat-deployed 8 by 48” oval coil. A grid pattern was established and the search began. The coilwas carried 100 feet out into the river (the length of the coil’s electrical cable), and then pulled back to shore. With each pass, the coil would cover more than a 4’ detection swath along its path. In less than two hours, a handgun was located. However, ballistics testing of the gun proved it was not the weapon used in this homicide. The team returned tolocate the weapons. The search was expanded, using the same successful techniques of the first operation. Two strong signals were received. Groping in the soft mud where the readings were strongest, a handgun and a knife were discovered. Tests on these weapons confirmed they were the ones used in the commission of the murder and the suspects are now awaiting trial. Investigations are continuing on the first handgun that was recovered.
