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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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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
Shena Nile wrote on Sep 7, 2009 1:59 PM:
" I just want to start by saying Thank You to everyone who has put so much heart in helpig us find out what happened. It means so much!!! I wrote this poem my Sophomore year of High chool as an assignment for English. We had to write a cetian kind of poem ( I couldn't tell you now what that is though..) We had to write about a life experiance so I chose this. I never showed it to anyone except the teacher so here goes..
Come Home
Evey night I pray and Pray
Hoping I'll see you day after day
When night comes rolling back around
I'm wishing more and more that your
found.
Please come home
Please come home
That day that you disappeared
Those men were to be feared
That day will always be in my heart
No matter how long we have been apart
Please come home
Please come home
That day in May, I will always remember
Even if i s November
The sun was shining, Spring was here
1993 was the year
Even though we were all hurting
It was a time that everyone was
searching
Pleae come home
Please ome home "
Come Home
Evey night I pray and Pray
Hoping I'll see you day after day
When night comes rolling back around
I'm wishing more and more that your
found.
Please come home
Please come home
That day that you disappeared
Those men were to be feared
That day will always be in my heart
No matter how long we have been apart
Please come home
Please come home
That day in May, I will always remember
Even if i s November
The sun was shining, Spring was here
1993 was the year
Even though we were all hurting
It was a time that everyone was
searching
Pleae come home
Please ome home "
sue wrote on Sep 14, 2009 1:29 PM:
" I am a family member,by marriage and we all would love some closure I am married to one od the brothers JOHN PITCHER,,AND not a day goes by that he nor I dont break down and cry,pray, have hope etc "
Dana Pitcher wrote on Sep 14, 2009 4:56 PM:
" I can not express how thankful I am to my sister Dawn (Lala) for her persistence.Dawn has never given up on finding our mother and sister and bringing closure to the rest of our family.She has been their to listen to us scream, cry, and just be there for all of my brothers and sisters. Dawn is amazing, she can handle a lot. I have called her crying, yelling, and at the end of my witts and she has calmed me down. My sister Lala (Dawn) is the most amazing women in the world. "
Jerusal wrote on Oct 9, 2009 8:37 PM:
" I was from the Safford area at the time that this happened. I have never forgotten when this happened and throughout the years I always thought about your family. May The Great Almighty God bring your family peace and I pray that the person or persons responsible be found! "
Jennifer DelRossi wrote on Oct 10, 2009 2:27 AM:
" First of all, Shena's poem was beautiful. But I just wanted to say to the family- God bless every one of you. I've known all of you for so long that you guys have always been like family to me. And Lala (Dawn) my rock, my best friend. I have watched you struggle year after year. Fighting and working to keep them searching for your mom and sister. Lala, you are the light at the end of the tunnel. No matter what, you have done so much for everyone, selflessly. I've watched you wake in the morning to take care of your family, get everyone together, help family and friends deal with their own issues, including many of my own - and the second you have a chance, you are on the phone or on the computer, only to keep working on finding your loved ones. You are at every fundraiser, every cause, every event that might give you the opportunity to spread awareness and to remind people. Your mom and sister are looking down on you from heaven, so very proud. Not only for what you have been doing for them, but for the woman that you've become and the amount of love that you give to everyone. They are watching over you to keep you and your family safe. They've seen this incredible person overcome obstacles that many couldn't handle. And still you fight. You fight for your family - you fight for answers. You fight to make things happen. You are an inspiration to us all. As a daughter and a sister, as a mother and friend- you've even been a caregiver to more than a few, probably myself included. And it doesn't end there, you are still so much more. You have a heart that is endless and there is nothing that you can not accomplish. You've cared for and loved us all, the best you could- only to stand to fight another day. You've taken on the pain and stress and gone forward when there was nothing to go forward to. But you made a way. Because of you, they will never stop searching, they will never give up- until there is peace for you and your family and justice for your mom and sister. You are what keeps it all together and always have been. I thank you for being my friend and love you for being more than just a friend. And know that you are surrounded by great people. People who are there to be your support and to help you in anyway. People who reached out to you without even knowing you, just because they could see the incredible woman that you are and that I've been priviledged to have in my life for some 30+ years. They will always be there. I will always be there. I love you so very much, Lala. My heart aches for your pain and I wish I could take it all away. But what I can give you, is my love, my support and my prayers. My prayers go out to you and your family - always. And I pray to God that you will find answers, that there will be peace again for you and your family and that there will be justice for your mom and sister. I promise you this, I will- we will 'all' fight together with you and for you, until justice is served. I look up to you Lala. You are what I strive to be.
All my love, Jennifer "
All my love, Jennifer "
Nene wrote on Oct 14, 2009 10:18 AM:
" Hi i just want to thank all that has been involved in helping bring closure to us all. I want to really thank Dawn ( lala as we all know her) for standing her ground and not letting the police just brush our story under the carpet and be forgotten. She has poured so much of her into finding closure for us all. She has shed many tears and had many of her fears pushed aside for she wants to find the person( or people ) who caused all this heartache.she is a very strong women and i am proud to say I am her sister. "
Connie Smierciak wrote on Aug 23, 2009 5:04 PM:
God Bless all who have helped in our search!
Smiles,
Connie Smierciak
connie@missingpitchers.com
Dawn Pitcher
dawn@missingpitchers.com "