I was just reading up on this on the weekend. Here is an Edmonton Sun article from November 1, 2009:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/11/01/11595986-sun.htmlTo neighbours living near the modest west-end bungalow, the work crew probably looked like any contractor doing home renovations.
But for 10 days in the summer of 2008 the people inside the house were not part of any home improvement: they were digging for a body.
Acting on a tip, Edmonton police took the extremely unusual step of digging up part of a basement to try to find the remains of missing city girl Tania Murrell, who vanished Jan. 20, 1983.
And although police did not find any trace of the missing six-year-old, the lead detective has no regrets about the $18,000 operation.
"It all fell into place and it really looked like we had something here," said Det. Howie Antoniuk of the historical homicide section. "After all, it takes a lot to dig up a basement."
SUSPICION
The search began after police received a tip in 2007.
"A woman contacted us who had been a casual playmate of Tania's who believed her father could be responsible for Tania's death," he said.
"There were allegations of sexual abuse against her father. She called us to say at the time Tania disappeared there was a hole in a basement room at their house. She understood (the hole) had been left for some plumbing work," said Antoniuk.
The tipster said she had always been suspicious of her estranged father and decided to finally come forward.
The family had long since moved from the house, located about 20 blocks away from the Murrell home at 10426 145 St.
After evaluating the information and interviewing the woman at length, Antoniuk felt the only option left was to enter the house and do a thorough search.
After convincing his superiors, he then went to a judge to obtain a search warrant.
His next step was to telephone the owner of the home.
"I identified myself and said to the homeowner that I believed there could be a body in your basement and may I come and take a look," said Antoniuk.
The homeowner was shocked but agreed to allow police inside. A family living upstairs and tenants living in the basement were moved to a hotel in early July 2008 as police -- all in plain clothes driving unmarked cars -- moved in.
Following the directions of the tipster, detectives went to a basement room.
"She drew a picture for us and told us where to dig," he said.
A police-hired contractor broke through the floor. Once they reached the concrete, it appeared to be disturbed, which piqued Antoniuk's interest.
After the contractor jackhammered through concrete, police dug down another half-metre and forensic officers carefully examined the area for any evidence of human remains. Everything came back negative; there had never been a body in or under the basement.
The contractor then returned everything to its original state and the operation ended.
Although Antoniuk never specifically told the homeowners who they were looking for, "I think they had a pretty good idea that it was (Tania)."
Even though the search came up empty, police still approached the man identified by the daughter about her allegations.
PASSED POLYGRAPH
"We then told the father what his daughter had said. He was quite surprised. We asked him to take a polygraph, he agreed and he passed," said Antoniuk, saying he is not aware of any further police investigation involving the father.
Antoniuk says the $18,000 tab, which included all excavation-related costs, plus room and meals for the displaced residents, points to the commitment city police have towards solving the case.
"Somebody knows something," said Antoniuk, adding that despite the fact police were looking for a body, the Tania Murrell mystery has always been a missing person case. He cites the case of Jaycee Lee Dugard, the California woman who resurfaced in late August, 18 years after being abducted as an 11-year-old girl.
Antoniuk said he is still trying to track down the woman walking with a child across 144 Street near 104 Avenue at about 11:10 a.m., Jan. 20, 1983.
A realtor told police at the time that the child seemed to fall and the woman was either dragging her or helping her.
Tania vanished while walking from Grovenor School to her home two blocks away at about 11:10 a.m. on Jan. 20, 1983.
Although a massive search was launched for the blond youngster, no trace was ever found.
The Tania file is considered the city's largest missing person case and now occupies more than 20,000 pages.
And if one tip can lead to a basement being dug up, city police obviously don't discount any potential lead.
"We're hoping that this (story) will spark renewed interest and give us the break we need," said Antoniuk, adding that the growth of the Internet has created information-sharing that wasn't available two decades ago.
Tania's mom, Vivian, who has endured a series of stress-related health problems, including a brain aneurysm, is also hoping for closure.
Vivian, 53, said from her home in Peachland, B.C., that she doesn't believe her daughter is still alive, "but I still have to have hope."
"I just want an answer before I die."
Topic: Tania Marie Murrell: Missing from Edmonton (1983) (Read 4519 times)
