She feels sick. Mires takes a soil sample to test for human remains. Further digging reveals a tag of clothing, several .22-caliber shells, a piece of old metal, charcoal, a bit of fabric, and broken beer bottles from the 1970s. But there are no bones. The coffin-shaped wood just seems to be residue from an old fire pit filled with refuse.
Mires notes that in other criminal cases, perpetrators have buried victims in garbage pits.
The garbage masks the smell of the body and discourages passersby from examining the contents. When we check the soil samples, we'll know. She plans to use ground radar and other tests, and police say they want to bring back the dogs to sniff the area more thoroughly. They intend to return, possibly this week. Perhaps then they'll find Andy, or some other child, or perhaps they'll find nothing at all.