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Oct. 30, 2009
Drone seeks Fields clues
By GINA B. GOOD
Yesterday, beginning at 10 a.m., the Nye County Sheriff's Office began a new search for evidence in the disappearance of Maureen Fields, the Wells Fargo Bank teller who has not been seen since Valentine's Day 2006. The NCSO has never given up on solving the case. "Not a day goes by in this office without a mention of Maureen Fields' name," said Sheriff Tony DeMeo. Now it has some high-flying help in the form of a highly experienced search team that is assisted by a state-of-the-art robotic airplane, or drone, that integrates numerous technologies, including GPS and aerial photography. Tim Miller, founder and director of Texas EquuSearch along with Lisa Hoffman, the organization's assistant director, have been conducting search exercises with NCSO personnel since Monday, using the county's search and rescue trained K-9s. Texas EquuSearch announced it is offering a $10,000 reward for information on Fields' whereabouts, whether alive or dead. The organization is funded entirely by private funds. The teams searched on horseback, on foot and on four-wheel-drive vehicles, combing numerous undisclosed areas in the greater Pahrump Valley area. Miller and members of his organization have been involved in such high-profile missing persons cases as the search for Natalee Holloway, the 18-year-old who disappeared during a high school graduation trip to Aruba on May 30, 2005. The drone plane, which has a wingspan of four feet, is operated by Jacob Elson of RP Search Services based in Wimberly, Texas. RPSS is one of the few specialized volunteer organizations offering assistance at no cost for missing persons worldwide. The group provides services to assist police, fire departments and privately conducted search and recovery operations. It also works with the FBI. RPSS aided Texas EquuSearch in Aruba. According to Miller, searches by the drone plans are highly successful. "We've had seven finds using the drone planes," he said. "We are using extremely sensitive equipment. In the last three years alone, we have recovered the bodies of seven people and saved one person -- a woman who got bit by a rattlesnake -- using the drone. "We've found total skeletal remains, clothing and other items. We'll be looking for tire tracks and footprints and for anything that could possibly look like a grave; either an indentation or a slight mound." "This case is not going to be over until it's over. We did one case in Los Angeles, and the fifth time we searched, we found the body." "We have basically partnered with these guys," said Det. David Boruchowitz. Miller added his company has been around for nine years, and by using satellite imagery has recovered 102 bodies and worked on more than 1,100 cases. They have found 300 missing persons alive. "We also brought one little lost girl back to life," said Miller. "She basically had a body temperature of 74 degrees when we got her in for help. She was dead when we picked her up. She made it." Fields was officially declared dead on July 6, upon petition of her husband, Paul Fields. Her father, Jim Fitzgerald, as well as DeMeo, have said may times they suspect foul play. Paul Fields has been identified as the NCSO's only suspect. "We suspect it was a murder, and we suspect the husband was culpable," DeMeo told the PVT in August. However, in July, it was discovered that DNA found on key items at the scene where Fields' abandoned Hyundai was found does not belong to her husband. "We have other evidence," DeMeo said at that time. "DNA does not take the place of responsible police work or of the DA's investigation. The sheriff's office believes, based on the evidence, that the suspect is Mr. Paul Fields." On Wednesday, DeMeo said, "We will never forget about Maureen Fields until we get closure on this case." |
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