04-02-2012, 11:34 AM
Jhessye would have turned 6 yesterday.
this story illustrates the determination and dedication of the searchers. this is hard brutal work. i hope they nail that disgusting sow.
Glendale Star
More than 30 days into the Butterfield Landfill search for 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley, the community anxiously waits to hear if viable evidence has surfaced to bring those responsible to justice. Volunteers and a team of police personnel work tirelessly each day to sift through the huge piles of trash for key evidence.
One of those volunteers is 37-year-old Detective Brian Pich. Pich works with the violent crimes unit, alongside the homicide unit, and has been with the Glendale Police Department 10 years.
Pich volunteered to search for Jhessye as soon as he could. Aside from his motivations stemming from work is perhaps a more personal one. Pich has a young daughter himself.
“If something happened to my daughter, I would want the police and people involved to do everything they could to find her or find out what happened,” Pich said. “Being part of this investigation, we want to find Jhessye, put her to rest, and let her family know we did everything we could.”
That’s just what volunteers have been doing. Workers arrive at 5:30 a.m. to a meeting spot in Glendale, where they board buses and vans, to drive 70 miles (or one hour and a half) to the landfill.
Once they arrive, searchers are suited up in Tyvex rubber protective suits, plastic surgical gloves which are worn under heavier protective gloves, dust masks, and boots which are worn under another pair of rubber galoshes.
At 7:15 a.m. following a briefing, workers start the search immediately. They work until 3 p.m. with a half hour break for lunch. A few seven- to 15-minute breaks are allowed for water.
Keys items the searchers look for include newspapers and envelopes displaying addresses from the area, where Jhessye’s body was believed to have been dumped in a trash receptacle in Tempe.
“The evidence received steered the investigation in this direction,” Pich said. “I know the evidence we are looking for will have a positive impact on the case, and I do the job that I do to hold people accountable for the criminal actions, and finding Jhessye will hold someone accountable for their actions.”
The few closed trash bags that are found are carefully opened and searched, though Pich claims almost all of the trash is loose by the time they search it.
Pich said several bones have been found, all of which are collected, set aside, and later examined by forensic specialists.
Last week, the hind end of a small dog was unearthed at the site. Pich said he and the volunteers observed the leg to analyze how the skin and muscles were still intact on the bone.
“We used it as a learning exercise, because that’s how we believe the condition of a human bone would appear, as to how it would be preserved and mummified having been in the landfill for that length of time,” he said.
Pich said trash is sorted into 10 rows for the workers to sift through which takes approximately 35 to 40 minutes to complete before a new set of 10 rows is created.
Volunteers use three-pronged potato rakes, which are used to “scratch through the debris.”
Many of the items that have been sifted through include medical equipment, basketballs, and landscaping clippings. Military style helmets have been the weirdest items found besides an Arizona State flag. Some rugs have also been found, which are unrolled to make sure there is nothing concealed in the center.
Pich said the trash is brought from a specific part of the landfill that has been identified as coming from where it is believed Jhessye’s body was placed in a trash receptacle.
Pich said when they are dismissed at the end of the day, the general feeling is disappointment they didn’t have a find, but workers are also physically relieved to go home.
‘It is physically demanding, because you are doing the same raking movements all day while you stand,” he said.
Although workers are disappointed they have not yet found substantial evidence, Pich said the group remains committed and hopeful.
“Based on the information that was given to searchers, we are confident that we will find something and be successful,” Pich said.
Pich said the arduous task of staring at the ground as you scan for critical evidence can get to you, but all the volunteers try to take their mind off of it by talking with one another about their plans for the weekend.
“I think you have to,” he said. “It’s pretty common in law enforcement to try to talk about anything else other than what it is you’re doing.”
Volunteers work a week-long shift, and then have the following week off for a break to tend to their other work duties, then return the following week. Volunteers were also instrumental in requesting to sift through more rows of trash, which was bumped up from a previous six to 10. Pich maintains that everything has gone very smoothly and the search has moved quickly.
However, as the weather warms, it will slow down the search because of heat and dehydration of the workers. More breaks will be required. Covered tents also provide air conditioning and reprieve for workers.
Pich claims, however, it isn’t so much the elements that tire workers.
“The emotional part is you’re looking for pieces of mail, newspapers from the area, and a girl’s body, and that’s literally what you’re thinking about as you’re looking down at the ground,” he said. “That is what fatigues me the most.”
Although workers feel a sense of disappointment, they continue to return day after day, hoping key evidence will be found.
“I’m thinking there is a 5-year-old girl that was thrown in the trash and I’m going to do whatever I can to find her,” Pich said. “It feels like an injustice, and you feel as though you’ve done a disservice to the victim by not finding them and allowing some closure for the family.”
To Pich’s knowledge, none of the workers have decided not to continue.
“It’s physically and emotionally draining, so I don’t think anyone would hold it against them if someone wasn’t able to continue,” he said.
Pich said he doesn’t plan on calling it quits anytime soon.
“I will search as long as the operation is in place and I’ll be out there as long as they let me,” he said.
this story illustrates the determination and dedication of the searchers. this is hard brutal work. i hope they nail that disgusting sow.
Glendale Star
More than 30 days into the Butterfield Landfill search for 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley, the community anxiously waits to hear if viable evidence has surfaced to bring those responsible to justice. Volunteers and a team of police personnel work tirelessly each day to sift through the huge piles of trash for key evidence.
One of those volunteers is 37-year-old Detective Brian Pich. Pich works with the violent crimes unit, alongside the homicide unit, and has been with the Glendale Police Department 10 years.
Pich volunteered to search for Jhessye as soon as he could. Aside from his motivations stemming from work is perhaps a more personal one. Pich has a young daughter himself.
“If something happened to my daughter, I would want the police and people involved to do everything they could to find her or find out what happened,” Pich said. “Being part of this investigation, we want to find Jhessye, put her to rest, and let her family know we did everything we could.”
That’s just what volunteers have been doing. Workers arrive at 5:30 a.m. to a meeting spot in Glendale, where they board buses and vans, to drive 70 miles (or one hour and a half) to the landfill.
Once they arrive, searchers are suited up in Tyvex rubber protective suits, plastic surgical gloves which are worn under heavier protective gloves, dust masks, and boots which are worn under another pair of rubber galoshes.
At 7:15 a.m. following a briefing, workers start the search immediately. They work until 3 p.m. with a half hour break for lunch. A few seven- to 15-minute breaks are allowed for water.
Keys items the searchers look for include newspapers and envelopes displaying addresses from the area, where Jhessye’s body was believed to have been dumped in a trash receptacle in Tempe.
“The evidence received steered the investigation in this direction,” Pich said. “I know the evidence we are looking for will have a positive impact on the case, and I do the job that I do to hold people accountable for the criminal actions, and finding Jhessye will hold someone accountable for their actions.”
The few closed trash bags that are found are carefully opened and searched, though Pich claims almost all of the trash is loose by the time they search it.
Pich said several bones have been found, all of which are collected, set aside, and later examined by forensic specialists.
Last week, the hind end of a small dog was unearthed at the site. Pich said he and the volunteers observed the leg to analyze how the skin and muscles were still intact on the bone.
“We used it as a learning exercise, because that’s how we believe the condition of a human bone would appear, as to how it would be preserved and mummified having been in the landfill for that length of time,” he said.
Pich said trash is sorted into 10 rows for the workers to sift through which takes approximately 35 to 40 minutes to complete before a new set of 10 rows is created.
Volunteers use three-pronged potato rakes, which are used to “scratch through the debris.”
Many of the items that have been sifted through include medical equipment, basketballs, and landscaping clippings. Military style helmets have been the weirdest items found besides an Arizona State flag. Some rugs have also been found, which are unrolled to make sure there is nothing concealed in the center.
Pich said the trash is brought from a specific part of the landfill that has been identified as coming from where it is believed Jhessye’s body was placed in a trash receptacle.
Pich said when they are dismissed at the end of the day, the general feeling is disappointment they didn’t have a find, but workers are also physically relieved to go home.
‘It is physically demanding, because you are doing the same raking movements all day while you stand,” he said.
Although workers are disappointed they have not yet found substantial evidence, Pich said the group remains committed and hopeful.
“Based on the information that was given to searchers, we are confident that we will find something and be successful,” Pich said.
Pich said the arduous task of staring at the ground as you scan for critical evidence can get to you, but all the volunteers try to take their mind off of it by talking with one another about their plans for the weekend.
“I think you have to,” he said. “It’s pretty common in law enforcement to try to talk about anything else other than what it is you’re doing.”
Volunteers work a week-long shift, and then have the following week off for a break to tend to their other work duties, then return the following week. Volunteers were also instrumental in requesting to sift through more rows of trash, which was bumped up from a previous six to 10. Pich maintains that everything has gone very smoothly and the search has moved quickly.
However, as the weather warms, it will slow down the search because of heat and dehydration of the workers. More breaks will be required. Covered tents also provide air conditioning and reprieve for workers.
Pich claims, however, it isn’t so much the elements that tire workers.
“The emotional part is you’re looking for pieces of mail, newspapers from the area, and a girl’s body, and that’s literally what you’re thinking about as you’re looking down at the ground,” he said. “That is what fatigues me the most.”
Although workers feel a sense of disappointment, they continue to return day after day, hoping key evidence will be found.
“I’m thinking there is a 5-year-old girl that was thrown in the trash and I’m going to do whatever I can to find her,” Pich said. “It feels like an injustice, and you feel as though you’ve done a disservice to the victim by not finding them and allowing some closure for the family.”
To Pich’s knowledge, none of the workers have decided not to continue.
“It’s physically and emotionally draining, so I don’t think anyone would hold it against them if someone wasn’t able to continue,” he said.
Pich said he doesn’t plan on calling it quits anytime soon.
“I will search as long as the operation is in place and I’ll be out there as long as they let me,” he said.