Race against time as detectives continue search for Flahive’s killer

Reporter: Taylor Petras
Published: Updated:
Crime tape closes the scene to the public. WINK News photo.
Crime tape closes the scene to the public. WINK News photo.

The search hoping to end a 24-year-old cold case has been centered in the woods behind Linda Carroll’s backyard for the past three days.

“It was a whole line of cars and I was wondering what is going on?” Carroll said. “We don’t normally get that kind of traffic here.”

Detectives and cadaver dogs are looking for signs that point to Christine Flahive.

“It’s very dense woods,” said Mike Hadsell, Peace River K9 Search and Rescue. “We’ll just keep working it until we can find it.”

Flahive, 42, disappeared in 1995.

MORE: New witness leads detectives to suspect a killer is on the loose

The case turned into a homicide investigation last week with new tips leading them to this dense wooded area.

On Tuesday, investigators continued their search off Indian Creek Lane and Fairway Dr. Dogs went deeper into the woods, expanding their search, collecting evidence.

“Skeletal remains at this age are very busted up and fragmented,” Hadsell said. “Everything we find that looks like bone, we’ve got to collect it and send it back.”

MORE: Crime Stoppers: Search for Christine Flahive

Hadsell said even if they do find something back in the woods, it could take weeks or even months for DNA testing to confirm it is Christine Flahive.

Even if the case comes close near her home, Carroll wants the family to get answers.

“I just hope they find her and get it settled for the family,” Carroll said.

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