Search steps up for Mary Lands Trace Christenson The Enquirer MARSHALL — Searchers will return today with heavy equipment as they look for a Marshall woman, missing for two years. Jim Carlin, a Battle Creek private investigator, said Tuesday he expects volunteer searchers will return today and use cadaver dogs and a backhoe to search for the body of Mary Lands. Lands, 39, has been missing since March 2004 after her boyfriend, Christopher Pratt, told police he last saw her after they had an argument and she walked away from the townhouse they shared. Marshall police have said she was a victim of foul play, and the family concedes she is dead. But her body has not been found, despite several searches. Carlin, who is working for Lands' parents, Clifford and Anita Marshall, said he has developed leads suggesting that Lands is buried on property near 24-Mile Road and F Drive North in Sheridan Township. The family brought in dogs last week from a private Indiana company. The dogs are trained to find dead bodies, and Carlin and the family said the animals were interested in an area near a swamp. Investigators have said they searched the property a year ago, but on Friday, Michigan State Police used a search dog and flew a helicopter equipped with an infrared device that could show the location of a body. First Lt. Dale Peet, commander of the state police's Battle Creek post, said police found no signs of a body and don't believe Lands is buried on the property. But Carlin, Clifford Marshall and a handful of volunteers returned to the property Tuesday to continue the search. "My confidence relies on the dogs from Indiana," Carlin said. "And it was multiple tips that she might be buried there." Carlin said a former owner of the property apparently had some connection with Pratt, the last known person to see Lands alive. Carlin and the others used shovels and rakes to check the area Tuesday and also moved a large trash pile, searching for clues. He said the backhoe and search dogs are expected to return today. If searchers find anything that suggests Lands is buried on the property, Carlin said their work will stop and police will be called. If they do not find anything, Carlin said the search will continue. "But there was no way to walk away last Friday because of the hit that the dogs (from Indiana) had," he said. As he watched searchers, Clifford Marshall said family members are frustrated with the pace of the investigation and just want to find Lands. "It is a shame that the family has to do all the work," he said. "Our intent is to find our daughter and put her to rest so we can go visit our baby. "We won't quit until we find her." Trace Christenson covers crime and courts. He can be reached at 966-0685 or tchrist@battlecr.gannett.com. http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060405/NEWS01/604050311/1002

Search Begins Anew for Local Missing Woman April 8, 2006 We have new information about a missing Marshall woman. 6 News has learned that a private investigator will continue the search. Mary Lands first went missing back in March of 2004. The private investigator says he believes Lands may be in a marshy area between Marshall and Albion. He searched the area nine days ago, but didn't find anything, so he says he's returning again to search between 24 Mile Road and F Drive. The investigator will have search dogs and digging equipment on hand and we'll have the very latest for you on 6 News. http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=4744586&nav=0RbQ

Search for Local Missing Woman Comes Up Empty Again April 9, 2006 11:41 AM CDT A private investigator used cadaver dogs for a second time to help find a missing Marshall woman. Searchers concentrated on an area of 24 Mile Road near F Drive, just north of Interstate 94. No new evidence was found because the ground was too cold, but the investigator is convinced the area holds answers. Mary Lands was reported missing more than two years ago. Just nine days ago, investigators searched a marshy area of Calhoun County. Another search is planned in a few days. http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=4746683

Investigators start digging for Mary Lands' body Update: Marshall, April 13, 2006 Private investigators have returned to a marshy area in Calhoun County to dig for the body of Mary Lands. The 40-year-old Marshall woman has been missing since March 12, 2004. Private investigator cadaver dogs made a positive hit two weeks ago near F Drive North and 24 Mile Road, northeast of Marshall. A State Police cadaver dog searched the same area and found nothing. Investigators are using a back-hoe to look for Lands' remains. http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4767904&nav=0RcddGt3

Undeterred, family continues search for Mary Lands April 13, 2006 (NEWS 3) - The search resumed Thursday for a missing Marshall woman. Mary Lands was last seen in March of 2004. A private investigator says numerous tips have led them to a piece of property in rural Calhoun County. They've been searching the site since the end of March. Searchers have used trained dogs and high tech helicopters to scour the property in Sheridan Township near Albion. Today, they brought in digging equipment. A backhoe dug up several spots near a marsh at the back of the property. These are places where private investigator Jim Carlin says trained cadaver dogs identified on March 29th. Today they sifted through several feet of wet, black mud. State police have searched this area, too. They brought dogs and a helicopter with heat seeking equipment. But they say they found nothing. Lands' family says they've received too many tips telling them this is the spot she was buried. "It's not Jim Carlin; it's not the Marshall family; it's the tips that led us here and we believe there's something here," said the private investigator. "We're going to do our best to see what can be determined." http://wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=25442&template=breakout_local.html

Search for Mary Lands postponed (Update: Calhoun County, April 14, 2006, 12:23 p.m.) The search for a missing Marshall woman has been postponed Friday due to bad weather. Forty-year-old Mary Lands has been missing since March 12, 2004. For more than three hours Thursday, a backhoe unearthed black sludge out of a 30 by 20 foot patch of swamp-like land off F Drive, just northeast of Marshall. "With the legs that extend on it, he has an 18-foot reach, and it also can go six-feet down, so we started skimming the water, skimming the ground, then eventually we're down to four to five feet," said private investigator Jim Carlin. Carlin, with the support of the family, was digging for signs of Mary Lands. "It's because of all the the tips we've received about this spot," said Mary Lands' father, Clifford Marshall. Carlin and his team brought out the heavy equipment because of what a team of independent cadaver dogs out of Indiana indicated two weeks ago. They got a strong hit, suggesting human remains at the location. "If we don't do a spot, then we're always going to think, she might have been there," said Marshall. Absent from the scene were Marshall Police. Carlin and the family are at odds with the department. In a recent interview with 24 Hour News 8, Lands' father said, "The Marshall Police Department has lied to us now so long that now we're through with the Marshall Police Department." At police headquarters in Marshall, no one would comment on Thursday's dig. Police are sticking by their statement that they searched the area in question twice, once with a State Police cadaver dog, and found nothing. The dig lasted for more than three hours Thursday, but Carlin and his team also found nothing. The family is promising to never give up. http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4769654&nav=0Rce

A break in the search for Mary Lands Updated: May 6, 2006 03:37 PM EDT MARSHALL – In the continuing search for Mary Lands, cadaver dogs today found what is suspected to be a human bone in a marshy field in an area private investigators have been digging for the last month. Jim Carlin, the investigator hired by the Lands family, told 24 Hour News 8 the hit was found this afternoon by dogs brought in from Flint. The Marshall Police have arrived on the scene. 24 Hour News 8 has a crew on the scene and will bring you more details as they become available. http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4868992&nav=0Rce

Possible break in Mary Lands case Updated: May 6, 2006 06:40 PM EDT CALHOUN COUNTY--It was around 1:15 p.m. when a team of search dogs from Flint found what appeared to be a human bone in a swampy area on F Drive and 24 Mile near Marshall. The private investigator working for Mary Lands' family tells 24 Hour News 8 each of the four dogs independently sniffed around the soil that was dug up and each dog had a positive hit. The dogs' handlers believe they found the forearm bone of a human. This is the same site where another group of dogs made a positive hit in March meaning eight of nine dogs in the last two months indicated human remains were buried in this location. The one exception, a Michigan State Police dog brought in after the first search. "I just hope that this is going to be accurately looked at and it is then that the site has to be excavated, but not by us. It needs to be done by the police," says private investigator Jim Carlin. Mary Lands disappeared more than two years ago after telling her fiance Chris Pratt she was going for a walk. She didn't return. The bone is in the custody of the Marshall Police Department. It is being taken to an anthropologist at Michigan State University. 24 Hour News 8 tried to talk with the Sergeant from Marshall Police out on the scene. He told 24 Hour News 8 he had no comment. http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4869360&nav=menu44_1

Bone found as cadaver dogs search for Mary Lands Lesley Randall, News 3 Reporter May 6, 2006 - 10:16PM SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP (NEWS 3) - The parents of a missing Marshall woman believe there is a big break in the search for their missing daughter. Around one o'clock Saturday afternoon, a team of search dogs from Flint discovered an eight-inch bone in a marshy area on F Drive near Albion in Calhoun County. "I think we've found Mary, and I think we're going to be able to put her to rest," Mary's father Clifford Marshall told News 3. Private investigator Jim Carlin inspected the bone, and he believes it is from a human arm. Carlin says the cadaver dogs are specially trained to recognize human remains, and that all four dogs "hit" on the bone. "There's something here," says Carlin, from the Sheridan Township property. A Marshall police officer retrieved the bone Saturday afternoon. It will be examined by a civilian forensic anthropologist. Family members have been told more information may come from authorities on Monday. Saturday's search was the third time since March that dogs have been brought to the site by missing woman's family. Mary's family says they continue to receive information that this is where their daughter is buried. "Of all the tips we received, this was the hot spot," says Clifford Marshall. Marshall police did not return phone calls Saturday. In March, a police dog searched the land and found nothing. Authorities then said the site was of no interest. In April, a backhoe began excavating the swampy area that sits behind a dilapidated trailer. Saturday, the bone was found poking out of that freshly-turned soil. http://wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=26150&template=breakout_local.html

Mary Lands' family stands guard over property where bone was found Updated: May 7, 2006 09:49 PM CDT By Dan Bewley Calhoun County - A bone found in Calhoun County's Sheridan Township is being tested by a forensic anthropologist at Michigan State University. Meanwhile, the family of missing Marshall woman Mary Lands is guarding the property where the bone was found. "I just want to help the family find Mary, I want this to be over with," said family friend Mike Vanderweg. "We need closure, if she's here we need to bring her home," said Mary Lands' cousin Dean Marshall. The bone found Saturday appears to be a human bone, according to the family's private investigator. 24 Hour News 8 was the only ones on the scene when the find was made and police were called in. Marshall Police bagged it up and sent it for tests. But on Sunday afternoon, the family's biggest question is 'Why aren't police on the scene?'. "Police show no interest in this, especially the Marshall Police. They came out here yesterday and didn't think that this was any big deal. I take this very serious and they should be out here right now," said Vanderweg. 24 Hour News 8 spoke with Marshall Police Chief Mike Olson Sunday evening. He told us, "We need to we know what type of bone was found and gather more information before determining the next steps we should take." Now the family is doing what they've been doing for the past two years...waiting. This time for results of those scientific tests and they say, no matter the outcome, they're confident that some day Mary will be found. "Finding that bone yesterday kind of gave us a little bit of hope, but then you can't get your hopes up too much," added Marshall. Chief Olson told us he's not sure when to get results back from MSU. An anthropologist there told us it only takes a few minutes to determine if the bone is human, he also said they can determine whether it's male or female...and even tell an approximate age. http://www.woodtv.com/global/story.asp?s=4871605

Update on Search for Missing Local Woman May 8, 2006 04:12 PM EDT Investigators are trying to figure out the origin of a bone found during a search for clues in the disappearance of Mary Lands. Cadaver dogs found the bone while searching marshy land off I-94 and 22 1/2 Mile Road in Marshall over the weekend. The search for answers in the disappearance of Mary Lands has led her family to search the land multiple times. This past weekend, cadaver dogs made an unexpected discovery- a bone. Now the task is figuring out whether it's a human or animal bone. Norm Sauer; Director, forensic anthropology lab, MSU: "The human animal cases are generally the easiest that we do, and typically, we can make an identification in a matter of two to three seconds." Michigan State University's forensic anthropology lab will help make the identification. Doctor Norm Sauer is the Director of the lab. Hays the distinction is easy for experienced forensic anthropologists. Norm Sauer: "This is a human femur and tibia, or thigh and shin bone, and this is a femur and tibia from a deer. The truth is, even though the same parts are here, there shape and proportions are quite different." And depending on which bone is found, forensic anthropologists can identify many other characteristics. Norm Sauer: "Tell the police that the remains belong to a male, who's between 25-35, around 5'6 to 5'10 of European ancestry." After all that work is done, the next step is making a positive identification of the person. Dr. Sauer says this can be a comprehensive process, taking as little as one day, or as long as several weeks. http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=4875142&nav=0RbQ

Bone found in Mary Lands search not human May 8, 2006 NEAR ALBION (NEWS 3) - A bone found by cadaver dogs searching for a missing Marshall woman belonged to an animal, according to forensic tests conducted today. The dogs found the bone over the weekend while searching for Mary Lands. Police came to the scene in Sheridan Township near Albion immediately. Today, they got the results from two forensic anthropologists at Michigan State University. Police say it is likely that the bone found buried on the parcel of land on F Drive North is a deer bone. Family and friends of Mary Lands have been digging here for more than a month after private investigator Jim Carlin said he received numerous tips that this is where they would find Mary Lands' body. They've been using a backhoe to dig in several spots on the property but, until Saturday, nothing had turned up. "We transported the bone up to Michigan State University where it was examined by, not one, but two forensic anthropologists," explained Marshall Police Chief Mike Olson. "They confirmed it was definitely not human." The family had been guarding the scene since Saturday hoping police would be back to continue investigating. They say they are disappointed with the results but will continue their search of the property. http://wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=26205&template=breakout_local.html

Bone found by searchers is from a deer, experts say The Enquirer A bone found Saturday by searchers for a missing woman is from a small deer, according to Marshall Public Safety Director Mike Olson. Two Michigan State University anthropologists made the identification of the bone found in Sheridan Township, Olson told the Enquirer just before 4 p.m. Members of the family of Mary Marshall Lands who has been missing from Marshall for two years have been searching the area for clues in her disappearance. Private investigator Jim Carlin said a bone was found Saturday in sediments scooped from a marsh off 24-Mile Road near F Drive North. The site has been searched repeatedly because Carlin says he has information that led him to believe that Lands, who has been missing since March 2004, was buried there. Carlin said cadaver-hunting dogs found an 8-inch piece of bone sticking out of sediments that had been scooped from a marsh on the land in recent weeks. He said the sediments had settled as water ran out of them and that may have exposed the bone. Originally published May 8, 2006 http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060508/NEWS01/60508003/1002

Hope turns to disappointment for family of missing woman Scott Noll, News 3 Reporter May 9, 2006 - 7:43AM NEAR ALBION (NEWS 3) - Fifty hours after the discovery a bone boosted their hopes, Mary Lands' family is once again searching for clues into the Marshall woman's disappearance. "It's a step backward, but we're never going to give this up, and if Mary's not here, we're going to find her somewhere," private investigator Jim Carlin said. Late Monday afternoon, Marshall Police Chief Mike Olsen called Carlin after learning a bone found by searchers on Saturday did not belong to Lands. "We transported the bone up to Michigan State University where it was examined by, not one, but two forensic anthropologists. They confirmed it was definitely not human, and most likely a deer bone," said Olsen. That bone was found near a marshy area off F Drive North in Sheridan Township. Carlin and Lands' parents have been scouring the property for more than a month after receiving tips that Lands was buried there. In March, cadaver searching dogs picked up on what handlers believed was human scent. A second team of dogs was brought in Saturday. "They wanted to go into that water," Carlin said pointing to the swamp where the dogs seemed to be drawn. "That's where all the hits they achieved." But the police chief points out a Michigan State Police search of the property in March turned up nothing. He says investigators are pursuing other angles in the case. " has gotten many tips. We got them as well and we exhausted that area before," said Olsen. But Lands' family is planning to return to the property this weekend. They say they'll search from boat and continue digging near the marsh. Believing, says Carlin, the swampy water is hiding a deadly secret. "It could be a drug dealer missing that no one knows about or it could be someone who disposed of another person, but there has to be a reason these dogs are coming to this site," Carlin said staring at the water. http://www.wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=26219&template=breakout_local.html

Missing woman's family to protest outside of Marshall Police Department Updated: May 26, 2006 07:02 AM CDT MARSHALL -- The family of missing Marshall woman Mary Lands will spend the Memorial Day weekend protesting in front of the city's police department. Earlier this month, a private search team hired by the family used cadaver dogs to search a piece of property in rural Calhoun County. The dogs found a bone which later turned out to be from a small deer. Starting at noon on Friday, family, friends and supporters are expected to walk for 52 hours in front of the Marshall Police Department to show their displeasure with the way the case has been handled. Police have conducted searches of their own. They say they are still working the case and are pursing leads. http://www.woodtv.com/global/story.asp?s=4953369