News > Breaking News
Search warrant served in missing Pitchers cold case
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
A search warrant was served Monday in a missing persons case in Elfrida that's more than 15 years old.
May 23, 1993 was the day Dorothy Pitcher, 47, and Danielle Pitcher, 14, vanished.
In a 2003 interview with the Range News, Dana Pitcher Hills said her mother and sister left their home near the Ash Creek School about 1 p.m. that Sunday to walk to the "RV Park store" at the intersection of Routes 181 and 191.
They went to buy cigarettes for Dorothy's husband, John "Jack" Pitcher, who stayed at home with the other five brothers and sisters to cook dinner, she said.
The mother and daughter made the three-mile walk one way from their home to the store, where they bought cigarettes and ice cream. They were last seen at about 3 p.m., heading back along 181 toward their home, Hills said.
Dorothy and Danielle Pitcher haven't been seen or heard from since.
However, on Monday, Aug. 17, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant on a property in the area of North Moore Road in Elfrida in connection with the 1993 cold case, said spokeswoman Carol Capas.
A cold case investigator with the sheriff's office began a review of the case earlier this year and revisited old leads, which led to new ones being generated, said Capas, adding that as a result of these leads, a search warrant was obtained and served on the property.
As part of the warrant requirements, three days were allocated to conduct a search of the property, buildings, and excavation of the land, she said.
To most efficiently accomplish the excavation, Dr. Bruce Anderson, Forensic Anthropologist, and Professor Ben Sternberg, Geologic Engineering Department and Lab for Advanced Subsurface Imaging, both from the University of Arizona were called in to assist.
With both university experts and about 10 volunteer students, along with sheriff's deputies, detectives, Search and Rescue volunteers, and Sheriff's Assist Team members, a search was conducted covering "a significant area," Capas said.
As a result, items of evidence were located and the investigation continues to move forward with additional leads being followed, she said.
The Arizona Range News reported in its June 3, 1993 edition that Jack Pitcher called the sheriff's office on Monday, May 24. The article quoted Sgt. Les Wolslagel (now retired) as saying that a tracking dog led searchers from the Pitcher residence to the store, but failed to pick up any other tracks.
A helicopter search of the area also failed to find anything.
Deputies also went door-to-door, hoping to find someone who might have seen the mother and daughter, or have information that could help the investigation, the article said.
With very few bits of solid evidence, the case remained unsolved.
The search of the immediate area was ongoing for several months with various leads being followed and the investigation remains open, Capas said in the Thursday statement.
The sheriff's office is asking anyone with any knowledge or information in this case to call 1-800-362-0812.
All information will remain confidential.
"I just do not want the public to forget that my mother and sister have been missing just about 10 years now," Dana said in the 2003 interview.
"I miss my Mom and sister so very much."
May 23, 1993 was the day Dorothy Pitcher, 47, and Danielle Pitcher, 14, vanished.
In a 2003 interview with the Range News, Dana Pitcher Hills said her mother and sister left their home near the Ash Creek School about 1 p.m. that Sunday to walk to the "RV Park store" at the intersection of Routes 181 and 191.
They went to buy cigarettes for Dorothy's husband, John "Jack" Pitcher, who stayed at home with the other five brothers and sisters to cook dinner, she said.
The mother and daughter made the three-mile walk one way from their home to the store, where they bought cigarettes and ice cream. They were last seen at about 3 p.m., heading back along 181 toward their home, Hills said.
Dorothy and Danielle Pitcher haven't been seen or heard from since.
However, on Monday, Aug. 17, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant on a property in the area of North Moore Road in Elfrida in connection with the 1993 cold case, said spokeswoman Carol Capas.
A cold case investigator with the sheriff's office began a review of the case earlier this year and revisited old leads, which led to new ones being generated, said Capas, adding that as a result of these leads, a search warrant was obtained and served on the property.
As part of the warrant requirements, three days were allocated to conduct a search of the property, buildings, and excavation of the land, she said.
To most efficiently accomplish the excavation, Dr. Bruce Anderson, Forensic Anthropologist, and Professor Ben Sternberg, Geologic Engineering Department and Lab for Advanced Subsurface Imaging, both from the University of Arizona were called in to assist.
With both university experts and about 10 volunteer students, along with sheriff's deputies, detectives, Search and Rescue volunteers, and Sheriff's Assist Team members, a search was conducted covering "a significant area," Capas said.
As a result, items of evidence were located and the investigation continues to move forward with additional leads being followed, she said.
The Arizona Range News reported in its June 3, 1993 edition that Jack Pitcher called the sheriff's office on Monday, May 24. The article quoted Sgt. Les Wolslagel (now retired) as saying that a tracking dog led searchers from the Pitcher residence to the store, but failed to pick up any other tracks.
A helicopter search of the area also failed to find anything.
Deputies also went door-to-door, hoping to find someone who might have seen the mother and daughter, or have information that could help the investigation, the article said.
With very few bits of solid evidence, the case remained unsolved.
The search of the immediate area was ongoing for several months with various leads being followed and the investigation remains open, Capas said in the Thursday statement.
The sheriff's office is asking anyone with any knowledge or information in this case to call 1-800-362-0812.
All information will remain confidential.
"I just do not want the public to forget that my mother and sister have been missing just about 10 years now," Dana said in the 2003 interview.
"I miss my Mom and sister so very much."
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