STATEMENT OF FACTS - University of Illinois Springfield

observed in the burn area during the initial search in October of 1996. (Vol. LIV,
R. 521)
The main focus of the February search was to find blood and human tissue.
In the case of the Slover home, the walls and floors were torn up to search for
hidden evidence. The police used both Luminol and Kassel Meyer to detect blood
and tissue evidence, and neither chemical showed the presence of any blood or
tissue at either the Miracle Motors property or the Slover home. (Vol. LV, R. 623)
Third Search – March 10-12, 1998
State’s Case-in-Chief
Richard Munroe, of the Winnipeg Police Department, testified that he
participated in the execution of a third search warrant at Miracle Motors on
March 10-12, 1998. (Vol. LXI, R. 2064) A burn barrel on the property was taken
to the Decatur Police Department where the items in the barrel were dumped and
sorted through piece by piece. (Vol. LXI, R. 2072) The searchers found a
petroleum can of some kind, remnants of a partially burnt coat, some rubber and
plastic products, among other things. (Vol. LXI, R. 2072-73) Many of the objects
had melted together. (Vol. LXI, R. 2073)
At the time of the search, there was snow on the ground and the search
crew brought in a large military tent and propane heaters which were used to heat
the area to be searched. (Vol. LXI, R. 2074-75) Fire brick, which is used to melt
asphalt was brought in from the highway department to melt the snow and thaw
the ground. (Vol. LXI, R. 2076; 2080-81) Two to three inches of soil was then
scraped off with new shovels and placed into plastic buckets. (Vol. LXI, R. 2076-
77) Searching the buckets was difficult on site and they were taken to another c
location to be searched at a later date. (Vol. LXI, R. 2078-79)
Munroe stated he had no idea if the burn barrel they searched in 1998 was
the same burn barrel that was in use in 1996. (Vol. LXII, R. 2169-70) Munroe
-61