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Tuesday, June 16, 2009
(Last modified: 2009-06-16 11:15:18) Source: The Newport Plain Talk MORRISTOWN-The search of a landfill in Hamblen County on Saturday did not result in the discovery of the body of missing teenager Megan Maxwell. "The search yielded no evidence connected to the Megan Maxwell investigation," wrote Newport Police Chief Maurice Shults in a press release. Maxwell, 19, disappeared very early Sunday morning on April 26. Her Mitsubishi Eclipse vehicle was found burned up about six miles east of Newport. She has apparently not been seen or heard from since that morning. A search team comprised of several nationally-certified human remains detection K-9's, five K-9 handlers and 13 investigators from several law enforcement agencies conducted the search of the TIDI Waste Landfill in the Lowland community of Hamblen County. Employees of the landfill had secured a large area roughly 90 feet by 100 feet, with a depth of about zero to 10 feet, according to Chief Shults. Investigators from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Cocke County Sheriff's Department, Newport Police Department, Hamblen County Sheriff's Department and the office of District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn conducted the investigation. Employees of the landfill utilized heavy equipment to excavate and separate the contents of the secured area in the landfill, according to the press release. The nationally-certified K-9 teams made searches at intervals throughout the excavation, according to Shults. Shults said, "I can't say enough about the cooperation and patience of (George and Patrick) McGuffin," the owner and president, respectively, of TIDI Waste Landfill, in their assistance with the planning and execution of the search. They have been great to work with." Shults added, "We also want to thank Hamblen County Sheriff Esco Jarnigan and his staff for their assistance and cooperation in coordinating and conducting this search." Copyright © 2009, The Newport Plain Talk |