Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Police focus on searcher's home

Investigators take journals, photos from friend of woman believed slain

By CHRIS A. COUROGEN

While officials would say only that the woman's body found Saturday in Perry County likely is that of Elaine Pierson, 48, they left no doubt as to manner of death: homicide.

Perry County Coroner Michael Shalonis said the condition of the body, found on an embankment about three miles from Pierson's house, was such that authorities are checking dental records before making an official identification.

But Shalonis, who lives next to Pierson on Trout Lane in Rye Twp., said he believes the body is that of his neighbor, who hadn't been heard from since Dec. 27.

"I knew her. She was my neighbor," Shalonis said. "There are no other missing persons that match the description."

Pierson's friends conducting a search found the body shortly before 11:30 a.m. down an embankment off Lambs Gap Road on Blue Mountain.

Last night, nearly 200 people filled the pews of the Unity Church on Wertzville Road in East Pennsboro Twp. for a prayer service and a chance to share thoughts, memories and stories about the woman, whom one speaker said had a "heart as huge as all of ours together."

"She made a lot of difference in a lot of people's lives," another speaker said.

"It hurts. It leaves us with a book full of questions. Sometimes those questions never get answered," said another.

State police are looking for some of those answers. No arrests have been made, and as of last night, they had no suspects, said Cpl. John Green of the Newport barracks.

A team of more than 10 investigators has been assigned to the case. Police continue to interview friends of Pierson and members of the search party that found the body, Green said.

While Shalonis said an initial examination of the body and an autopsy yesterday confirmed that the case is a homicide, he declined to go into details because it is now a criminal investigation.

Shalonis said the body had been where it was found for several days, roughly coinciding with the time frame of Pierson's disappearance.

He said there were no obvious signs of sexual assault, but tests are being done to check that. Toxicology tests also are being done. Shalonis characterized those as routine in such cases.

After an official search had been called off, several of Pierson's friends organized a search party, found the body and called police. The body was fully clothed and not covered by debris, Shalonis said.

"We got together the night before and discussed it. We decided to go out and search the next day," said Regis Crawford of Harrisburg, an organizer of the search.

Pierson was reported missing on Dec. 29, two days after a cell phone call on the evening of Dec. 27 that officials have said is her last confirmed contact with anyone. Police have not released details of that call.

Before the body was found, state police had said there were no signs of foul play at her house or any indication that anything was missing from the residence.

The front door was closed but not locked, and a gas fireplace was lighted, police said. Her wallet, eyeglasses, cell phone and car keys were in the house, and her two vehicles were in the garage, trooper said.

Also left behind was her German shepherd, Radcliffe, which friends said was Pierson's best friend -- and her protector.

On Wednesday and Thursday, searchers combed more than 1,000 acres of woods around Pierson's home. Police called off the searches after Thursday, saying they would be resumed only if there was reason to look in a particular area.

The body was found was about a half-mile from a logging trail on the east side of Lambs Gap Road that had been used to transport searchers into the woods on Thursday. The areas combed during the official search were on the east side of Lambs Gap and farther down Blue Mountain.

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

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