Post by mysticsnowangel on May 22, 2006 20:03:20 GMT -5
The search for evidence related to the disappearance of Brooke Wilberger has turned up something police are calling "unusual" in a private gravel pit on the east side of the Willamette River in Linn County.
Searchers noticed something that didn't seem normal around dusk on Thursday and police secured the site for the night and brought in the State Police Crime Lab team to analyze the unspecified evidence, Lt. Ron Noble of the Corvallis Police Department said Friday morning.
Noble did not say what was found because it could compromise the effort to find the missing 19-year-old who vanished from an apartment complex in southwest Corvallis Monday morning.
Police do not think that Wilberger is there and the vague description of what was found seemed to indicate that investigators were just being thorough in checking every possible lead.
"We haven't examined the scene," Noble said. "We don't have any idea what's there. There is no indication that Brooke is there."
The investigation at the Morse Bros. gravel pit, about four miles from where Wilberger was reported missing, is the first time the crime lab has been used in the disappearance case that has grabbed national attention.
"I'm not sure we know enough to call it a breakthrough," Noble said.
Police are encouraged that they have something to follow after four days with little to go on, he said.
Police suspect that Wilberger may have been abducted in broad daylight from the apartment complex where she was cleaning. Her car and personal items were left behind and no one has reported seeing her since.
Police are working with the FBI profiler to develop a description of who might have kidnapped Wilberger. They also continue to interview "persons of interest" in Oregon and out of state. Police are using polygraph tests, a standard tool in investigations, Noble said.
Almost 700 tips have been reported since Monday and police continue to investigate possible leads. Noble said that police and family hope that someone who has seen Wilberger will call.
"We are doing everything we can to find Brooke," Noble said.
The search and rescue operation resumed Friday morning in west Corvallis, aided by the help of volunteers as they scour an area within a 5- to 7-mile radius of where Wilberger was last seen.
Wilberger is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weights 105 to 119 pounds. She was last seen wearing a T-shirt with "BYU Soccer" in small print; an indigo "Fresh Jive" sweatshirt; blue jeans and no shoes. She was wearing a ring engraved with the letters CTR, small hoop earrings and possibly a silver watch. She has a piercing in the top of her right ear and a scar on her right forearm from her wrist to her elbow from a gymnastics accident.
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is asked to call the Corvallis Police Department at 766-6989 or 766-6911 after 5 p.m. or toll free at 877-367-2270. The Wilberger family also has created a Web site for tips and information at www.findbrooke.com.
Becky Waldrop covers public policy and education for the Gazette-Times. She can be reached at waldropb@gtconnect.com or 758-9510.
Searchers noticed something that didn't seem normal around dusk on Thursday and police secured the site for the night and brought in the State Police Crime Lab team to analyze the unspecified evidence, Lt. Ron Noble of the Corvallis Police Department said Friday morning.
Noble did not say what was found because it could compromise the effort to find the missing 19-year-old who vanished from an apartment complex in southwest Corvallis Monday morning.
Police do not think that Wilberger is there and the vague description of what was found seemed to indicate that investigators were just being thorough in checking every possible lead.
"We haven't examined the scene," Noble said. "We don't have any idea what's there. There is no indication that Brooke is there."
The investigation at the Morse Bros. gravel pit, about four miles from where Wilberger was reported missing, is the first time the crime lab has been used in the disappearance case that has grabbed national attention.
"I'm not sure we know enough to call it a breakthrough," Noble said.
Police are encouraged that they have something to follow after four days with little to go on, he said.
Police suspect that Wilberger may have been abducted in broad daylight from the apartment complex where she was cleaning. Her car and personal items were left behind and no one has reported seeing her since.
Police are working with the FBI profiler to develop a description of who might have kidnapped Wilberger. They also continue to interview "persons of interest" in Oregon and out of state. Police are using polygraph tests, a standard tool in investigations, Noble said.
Almost 700 tips have been reported since Monday and police continue to investigate possible leads. Noble said that police and family hope that someone who has seen Wilberger will call.
"We are doing everything we can to find Brooke," Noble said.
The search and rescue operation resumed Friday morning in west Corvallis, aided by the help of volunteers as they scour an area within a 5- to 7-mile radius of where Wilberger was last seen.
Wilberger is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weights 105 to 119 pounds. She was last seen wearing a T-shirt with "BYU Soccer" in small print; an indigo "Fresh Jive" sweatshirt; blue jeans and no shoes. She was wearing a ring engraved with the letters CTR, small hoop earrings and possibly a silver watch. She has a piercing in the top of her right ear and a scar on her right forearm from her wrist to her elbow from a gymnastics accident.
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is asked to call the Corvallis Police Department at 766-6989 or 766-6911 after 5 p.m. or toll free at 877-367-2270. The Wilberger family also has created a Web site for tips and information at www.findbrooke.com.
Becky Waldrop covers public policy and education for the Gazette-Times. She can be reached at waldropb@gtconnect.com or 758-9510.