Deputy

I was hoping and praying that they would find her alive, but my gut instinct told me that she would probably be deceased.

I was hoping and praying that they would find her alive, but my gut instinct told me that she would probably be deceased.

This is a massive area. Cane fields, a lot of water.

This is a massive area. Cane fields, a lot of water.

It is, really. As you see, all the cane they got, right?

It is, really. As you see, all the cane they got, right?

Right up in this area right here. At that time, they had some water in this ditch, because to me, it was a watery grave.

Right up in this area right here. At that time, they had some water in this ditch, because to me, it was a watery grave.

Absolutely. She was transferred, dumped.

Absolutely. She was transferred, dumped.

That means that she must have been back there. That this ditch was full of water.

That means that she must have been back there. That this ditch was full of water.

And that she must have been here. She must have been here.

And that she must have been here. She must have been here.

It was really A remarkable sequence of events where a deputy who actually had the experience that this particular deputy did just asked permission, hey, maybe I can, you guys mind if I take some pictures and walk around the back of the yard? The right person saw what started this case.

It was really A remarkable sequence of events where a deputy who actually had the experience that this particular deputy did just asked permission, hey, maybe I can, you guys mind if I take some pictures and walk around the back of the yard? The right person saw what started this case.

We have a body buried in the backyard. We have evidence of a gunshot wound. And we have a caliber bullet that was consistent with the type of weapon that was sold by Laurie Shaver.

We have a body buried in the backyard. We have evidence of a gunshot wound. And we have a caliber bullet that was consistent with the type of weapon that was sold by Laurie Shaver.

Tell me about this other dude.

Tell me about this other dude.

Right, yeah. So I was like, do you know anybody that would be like our suspect in this or anything like that? I'm telling you, person of interest will be John Mello. And then he did mention John Mello's name at that point. There's been a custody battle.

Right, yeah. So I was like, do you know anybody that would be like our suspect in this or anything like that? I'm telling you, person of interest will be John Mello. And then he did mention John Mello's name at that point. There's been a custody battle.

It was her ex, and they were having some issues.

It was her ex, and they were having some issues.

And so they dispatched law enforcement immediately, ambulances.

And so they dispatched law enforcement immediately, ambulances.

It looks like somebody may have broke in and shot her in the head. OK. I understand.

It looks like somebody may have broke in and shot her in the head. OK. I understand.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I've got some people coming, sir. I have everybody coming. I'm sending the paramedics to help now. Step out of the house and that way, wait for the paramedics and the police at the front of the house and leave everything as you found it.

I've got some people coming, sir. I have everybody coming. I'm sending the paramedics to help now. Step out of the house and that way, wait for the paramedics and the police at the front of the house and leave everything as you found it.

Is she breathing?

Is she breathing?

Yes, ma'am. He was just kind of standing to the side over here, just waiting. He was on the phone with someone. How did you get in the house?

Yes, ma'am. He was just kind of standing to the side over here, just waiting. He was on the phone with someone. How did you get in the house?

Come home, just come home. We just started talking briefly about what was going on inside. Basic info about when's the last time you saw her and the last time you talked to her.

Come home, just come home. We just started talking briefly about what was going on inside. Basic info about when's the last time you saw her and the last time you talked to her.

I do smell something.

I do smell something.

Today?

Today?

Do you live here?

Do you live here?

You stay here occasionally?

You stay here occasionally?

All right, do me a favor. Just stand right here.

All right, do me a favor. Just stand right here.

You want to help me clear it real quick?

You want to help me clear it real quick?

So I went in with another deputy. We started clearing. Sheriff's office. I do smell something. All right, let me see what we got. There is a smell in here. You want to hold right, and I'll clear this on the left. We didn't know who was inside. Barely seeing, I could see her feet at that point, so I kind of knew what was going on. All right, I got her feet right here in front of me.

So I went in with another deputy. We started clearing. Sheriff's office. I do smell something. All right, let me see what we got. There is a smell in here. You want to hold right, and I'll clear this on the left. We didn't know who was inside. Barely seeing, I could see her feet at that point, so I kind of knew what was going on. All right, I got her feet right here in front of me.

All right, I got her feet right here. This is weird, dude. First thing I noticed was the rose petals everywhere.

All right, I got her feet right here. This is weird, dude. First thing I noticed was the rose petals everywhere.

Continued clearing, made it up to her, saw that there was no signs of life. We kept moving and cleared the rest of the house. Yes, ma'am, we're clearing the house now. Just to make sure there's no one in the house. Correct. Pushing in. Sheriff's office. Take one, I'll take the other.

Continued clearing, made it up to her, saw that there was no signs of life. We kept moving and cleared the rest of the house. Yes, ma'am, we're clearing the house now. Just to make sure there's no one in the house. Correct. Pushing in. Sheriff's office. Take one, I'll take the other.

I've been doing this 15 years and it was pretty gruesome.

I've been doing this 15 years and it was pretty gruesome.

First thing I noticed was the rose petals everywhere. I thought that was kind of weird. They were just kind of all over the floor and no particular, not a pattern. It was just kind of everywhere. This is weird, dude. There was also a chemical odor and just a lot of blood. A lot of blood.

First thing I noticed was the rose petals everywhere. I thought that was kind of weird. They were just kind of all over the floor and no particular, not a pattern. It was just kind of everywhere. This is weird, dude. There was also a chemical odor and just a lot of blood. A lot of blood.

I couldn't tell at that point. Our protocol is not to really touch anything. If there's no signs of human life, I don't have to render aid. We try not to contaminate the scene.

I couldn't tell at that point. Our protocol is not to really touch anything. If there's no signs of human life, I don't have to render aid. We try not to contaminate the scene.

You could tell there was a struggle inside the house at some point. Looked like she was pulled by her ankles or moved somehow. Let's get out of here with that smell.

You could tell there was a struggle inside the house at some point. Looked like she was pulled by her ankles or moved somehow. Let's get out of here with that smell.

Came back outside, kind of locked the house down so nobody in or out. Just lock it down. Definitely not a death odor.

Came back outside, kind of locked the house down so nobody in or out. Just lock it down. Definitely not a death odor.

As far as I can tell, I'm not EMS, man. And this is your girlfriend?

As far as I can tell, I'm not EMS, man. And this is your girlfriend?

What's her name?

What's her name?

Breathe in. Breathe out. Why are you resisting? Is it too late to get a refund?

Breathe in. Breathe out. Why are you resisting? Is it too late to get a refund?