MICHIGAN STATE POLICE

Coffer dam construction and hydro-excavation for forensic evidence recovery

BioTech Agronomics was contracted by the Michigan State Police to develop the means and methods and to perform the collection of forensic evidence for a multiple homicide case in Newaygo County. The Michigan State Police and Newaygo County Sheriff detectives and FBI agents had retrieved one body that had floated to the surface of the lake. There was a high level of suspicion that multiple bodies had been disposed in a remote lake in Newaygo County by wrapping the corpses in chicken wire and chains and sinking them in the dark depths of the lake. The detectives were confident that through the use of forensic technology, coupled with intelligence gathered through their nearly two year investigation that the location of the bodies could be pinpointed within 10 ft. However, the lake was severely aged and mostly thick muck, making it impossible for divers to freely move even at shallow depths, much less descend to the depths where the bodies were suspected to be resting.

The MSP divers had attempted to dive for the bodies and aborted the mission, as the force from the heavy muck was crushing. Initially, BioTech Agronomics mobilized a soil boring drill and collected samples within a close proximity of the sites to ascertain the depth and substrata of the lake bottom. Based on this analysis, we determined that the lake was approximately 95 ft deep, with approximately 80 ft of muck, 5 ft peat, 5 ft of marl and 5 ft of sand before reaching solid bedrock.

In coordination with the detectives, BioTech Agronomics developed and implemented a plan to construct coffer dams approximately 15 ft by 15 ft around the suspected areas. We then slowly pumped the contents out of the containment into a geotextile tube. Using lake water from outside of the containment area, we were slowly and methodically able to hydro-excavate and collect every piece of debris and evidence in that area.

Following completion of this project, the suspect was convicted of capital murder and is currently sitting on death row awaiting execution.

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