Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Probe of Pierson slaying is wide, police say

By CHRIS A. COUROGEN

Police have searched Rochelle Laudenslager's home, office and cars, but they said the Lower Paxton Twp. woman is not their only focus in the homicide investigation into Elaine Pierson's death.

State police Sgt. Charles Ringer said yesterday that police are following many leads and are not willing to call Laudenslager, who once lived with Pierson, or anyone else a suspect in the Rye Twp. woman's death.

Pierson's body was found Jan. 6 off Idle Road near Lambs Gap Road on the Perry County side of Blue Mountain.

Two troopers assigned to the 12-member Pierson case team have been assigned to desk duty after participating in Saturday's chase in Rye Twp. that preceded the suicide of Joseph D. Dum.

Officials said yesterday an autopsy determined that the Harrisburg man died of a self-inflicted stab wound although he suffered a gunshot wound in an arm at the end of a police pursuit.

"The gunshot wound was not anywhere near being a fatal injury," Perry County Coroner Michael Shalonis said.

The pursuit started when the troopers saw Dum parked near the site where Pierson's body was found. Police said they have found no connection between Dum and the Pierson case.

The two troopers will return to the Pierson case when the investigation of Dum's death is completed. Their absence will not hamper the Pierson investigation, Ringer said.

"We're moving forward. We're making progress," he said.

Ringer said the investigation began with people close to Pierson.

"We need to eliminate all of her friends and associates. We still have not accomplished that," Ringer said.

The last known contact with Pierson was a cell phone conversation the night of Dec. 27. A friend reported her missing two days later.

Ringer said time is on the side of the police.

"There are things that happen over time. As long as you still have leads to follow, time is on our side," he said.

The investigation is very different from cold case investigations depicted on television, Ringer said.

"A lot of those don't have good leads to pursue. We have some very good leads to pursue here," he said.

Anyone with information about Pierson's death is asked to call police at 567-3110.

Perry County Crime Stoppers has posted a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Anyone with information, including those who wish to remain anonymous, can call Crime Stoppers at 210-8477.

CHRIS A. COUROGEN: 255-8112 or ccourogen@patriot-news.com

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