Butte News

Forensic K-9 unit detects human scent at the Butte Silver Bow landfill

Posted: Feb 15, 2013 10:28 PM by Katy Harris - MTN News

A Forensic K-9 unit alerted their owner of a human scent at the Butte Silver Bow landfill this afternoon.

The landfill search was made up of about a dozen state law enforcement personnel, 3 Anaconda detectives, 2 trained K-9 dogs and their owner. Wendy Kessler and her two highly trained Border Collies picked up a human scent at the landfill after 2 hours.

Kesslerstated, "We searched the areas that they had searched. We searched an area that wasn't searched yet and then an area of extreme high potential. We were up on a higher bank and he gave us a bark alert so I brought Jetta out and she also gave us an alert as well. You know there is so much scent here and there is of course objects and stuff that does contain human scent."

Landfill workers began moving dirt around this afternoon where the dogs picked up the scent. Then Kessler and the dogs returned for the second search.

Montana Highway Patrol also helped in the search.

Kessler may return with 4 dogs next week and continue searching in different areas.