Search Warrant Served In Cold Case

New evidence concering persons missing since 1993 was discovered on property in Elfrida today.On Monday August 17, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on a property in the area of North Moore Road in Elfrida in connection to a missing persons cold case from 1993.  The original incident reported to the Sheriff’s Office on May 23, 1993 was that 47 year old Dorothy Pitcher and her 14 year old daughter Danielle Pitcher left their house on Ash Creek Road and Highway 181 at approximately 1:00 pm to walk to the A&M Market in Sunizona and never returned. The search of the immediate area was ongoing for several months with various leads being followed and the investigation remains open.

    A Cold Case Investigator with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office began a review of the case earlier this year and revisited old leads which led to new ones being generated.  As a result of these leads, a search warrant was obtained and served on the property described above. As part of the warrant requirements a period of three days was allocated to conduct a search of the property, buildings, and excavation of the land.  In order to most efficiently accomplish the excavation portion of the warrant, Dr. Bruce Anderson, Forensic Anthropologist and Professor Ben Sternberg, Geologic Engineering Department and Lab for Advanced Subsurface Imaging both of the University of Arizona were called to assist.  With both University experts and approximately ten volunteer students, along with Cochise County Sheriff’s Deputies, Sheriff’s Detectives, Search and Rescue volunteers, and Sheriff’s Assist Team members, a search was conducted and covered a significant area.

    As a result of this search warrant, items of evidence were located and the investigation continues to move forward with additional leads being followed. 

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with any knowledge or information in this case to call 1-800-362-0812.  All information will remain confidential.