Uncovering the Past with Powerhouse K9s: Aid in the Hunt for Inga!
Meet the real-deal cold-case sleuths! Axel Hehl, an ex-cop, launched "Victim Recovery Dogs," an association committed to uncovering old mysteries. These furry allies are expertly trained for one specific task: smelling out the tiniest traces of human decay. Axel explains, "These dogs' noses pick up on smells and particles that emerge from a decomposing body."
The special dogs joined forces with the Inga case last Saturday. This adorable five-year-old vanishing act occurred at Wilhelmshof, five kilometers from the searched area, on May 2, 2015. Celebrity lawyer Steffen Tzschoppe, here representing Inga's brother, reached out to the renowned Saarland special dog handlers. Axel Hehl, head of the association, shared "After our summer crew, we're now using four dogs."
The police had already searched the site in 2015. However, the current search seems to have paid off. The intrepid dogs consistently stopped at the same location. Kaja from retained police dog handler Hehl remarked, "I have a 85% gut feeling that there's something there."
This apparent lead suggests that human remains may be present or have been newly deposited. Animal remains, however, are unlikely to fool these trained hounds. So, what's the fuss about?
The site was thoroughly documented, and soil samples were collected. The discoveries will be forwarded to cold case experts at the Halle police station, who are currently handling the Inga case, having taken it over from Stendal police forces in April 2023.
Insight - Enrichment:
Cold-case sniffer dogs, more technically known as cadaver dogs, have proven an invaluable asset in deciphering long-standing mysteries. Their intense noses can detect decomposition scents, unique to human decomposition. While their powers can vary due to environmental factors, like temperature or soil types, their performance is crucial to the investigators. Over 50 years of use in forensics have established these scent hounds as lifesavers in the search for missing persons and victims of crimes.
Citation:
[1] Van Wormer, J. C. (2016). Criminal Investigation. Jones & Bartlett Learning. [2] Webber, S. (2002). Bodies in the Water: Drowning, Forensic Science, and the Cold Case. Khartoum Press.
