Lisa Irwin: FBI Cadaver Dogs In Missing Baby's Home Detect Dead Body Scent

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An FBI cadaver dog reacted to the scent of a dead person inside the Kansas City home where a baby girl disappeared nearly three weeks ago, according to a police affidavit released Friday.

The affidavit was filed to support a search warrant request for the home of Deborah Bradley and Jeremy Irwin, who reported their 10-month-old daughter, Lisa Irwin, missing Oct. 4 and said someone must have crept into the home and taken the girl while the mother and two other boys slept.

There is new surveillance footage in the video above.

The affidavit said the dog taken into the house Monday indicated a "positive `hit' for the scent of a deceased human in an area of the floor of Bradley's bedroom near the bed." A judge approved the warrant Tuesday and police and the FBI conducted a daylong search Wednesday.

Court documents filed Friday said police took blankets, toys and clothing from the house, as well as rolls of tape and a tape dispenser.

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE LISA IRWIN DISAPPEARANCE (STORY CONTINUES BELOW):

The family's local lawyer, Cynthia Short, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment, and police declined to discuss what they found. However, the family's attorney released a statement earlier in the day saying that they were fully cooperating with investigators, the Associated Press reported.

The police declined to elaborate on the search of the parents' home.

"We aren't able to talk about specifics of the case," said police spokeswoman Stacey Graves. "The documents that were made public will have to stand on their own."

The FBI dogs, which often are used at both disaster and crime scenes, are trained "specially to recognize the scent of decaying, decomposing human flesh," retired FBI special agent Jeff Lanza said Friday.

"That's what they hit on. What the dogs are saying is that they smell that scent," Lanza said. "That can be the scent of an actual body decomposing, or residual scents after the body is no longer there."

Wednesday's search was perhaps law enforcement's most aggressive yet at the parent's home, drawing officers armed with shovels, rakes and other tools who hauled off bags that appeared to be full of potential evidence.

Police also brought in a bomb and arson truck to assist the search, though spokesman Capt. Steve Young said there were no indications of explosives in the house. Some bomb detection devices use X-ray technology to scan solid objects to reveal items concealed within. An AP reporter saw investigators carrying at least a dozen thin, black rectangular sheets away from the home during the afternoon.

Comments

[morekare]

10:40 AM on 12/17/2011

The mother is guilty of murdering her baby girl but in this country it seems like the police and courts don't care. Wake up, America. It's time to prosecute murderers and then EXECUTE them. The mother of baby Lisa is a con artist who will get away with murder. Kind of reminds me of Casey Anthony. May little Lisa Irwin RIP.

[MAN OF THE TRUE GOD]

05:29 PM on 11/20/2011

How surprising...NOT!

[amp81803]

01:53 AM on 11/03/2011

god bless this poor baby How about the mother got real loaded after she gave the baby away passed out and told the husband a different story. i do not know what happened but hte truth is she probrably does not remember she was so drunk. the husband was workig a double shift the first one in months and that is when it went down sounds like there is someother people involved

[jaborine]

12:26 AM on 11/03/2011

I can just imagine the agony of the investigators in these cases-looking, but hoping not to find
a little victim. Will the madness never end? I pray the baby is found alive and the parents are not guility. We have had recent cases of children being found after being missing for years.

Let's keep praying until the child is found. It is impossible not to be touched by this story.
Finally, as a dog lover who has owned over 13 dogs, I believe these animals are experts at what they do.

[Imakarmagirl]

04:14 PM on 11/03/2011

You are so right about the dogs...their error rate is less than 1%...what human can be that accurate? That's right...none! They are experts at what they do.

[Woodsie]

06:57 PM on 11/02/2011

"Dead baby brought to you by Snickers."

Really, HuffPo. A commercial?

[Cutiepieblue]

03:50 PM on 11/02/2011

So are they saying they have something or not?

[Vicki Flaherty]

03:45 PM on 11/01/2011

I agree a dog has over three hundred senses in smell, however, new verses old has not been determined. Stats show that 85% of home invasions are committed by someone that knows you, and your behaviors. Could it not be conceivable that a to for a child uses same?
It has already been determined she got drunk, passed out, husband at work.Someone she knew, or knew of her, could say the timing was right.

Also binge drinkings blackout, verses accident without intent is a question. No excuse. Her tears are real.
I also agree that evidence verses speculation should be applied. This child's disappearance within a 8 hour span of police notification, hardly gives much time for decomposition to sit in, if child remained in home. Temp plays a part and where one experts opinion will way against anothers.
Jury still out on my end, and fear of vigilantism, which seems to be a norm, and was my point.

[Charles Queen]

10:11 PM on 10/31/2011

Well,so far going by every thing thats been said and going on right now I would say that the parents or parent has something to do with this whole thing.It's way to shacky to even begin to buy their story.It would have had to be someone who knew thewm and the layout of the hhouse and especially to know where exactly to kn ow where the three cell phones were at.I still say they are behind this whole thing.The kid may be alive and it could be a scheme to collect reward moeny that could easily be split amongst those involved,you do have 2 seperate people offering 100,000 dollars each

[excab2]

09:56 PM on 10/28/2011

Time for playing nice and holding hands is obviously over. Time to take this to a Grand Jury to get an indictment. This Mother most obviously is not in the slightest interested in finding this baby; otherwise, she would be cooperating with investigators. It is just the opposite. Brings to mind the obvious. She knows that baby is not coming back.

Game playing time is over. Time to get some serious work underway.

[ReasonOverRant]

06:18 AM on 10/29/2011

I agree it looks suspicious, but as we saw in the Casey Anthony case, based on what evidence are you going to charge the mother? And what are the charges? There's no proof the baby is dead. There's no proof the mother harmed the baby.

[excab2]

11:36 AM on 10/29/2011

Excellent points. Only time will tell. In the Scott Peterson case, he also lied like a rug but they eventually were able to bring him to trial and got a conviction for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci and unborn son Connor.

It is a shame these things happen and they, even when sentenced to the maximum death penalty, costs the state and the taxpayers millions of dollars which could be used to help people who are in need. And, it goes on for years and years.

I believe the death penalty is a throw back to medieval times and the rack. Torture them on a daily basis for years on end knowing that is going to be their eventual outcome.

People just think they can take the life of another and it is usually involved with drugs or alcohol. Plus the fact they actually believe they are the sharpest tool in the shed.

[excab2]

10:58 PM on 10/29/2011

Well, I have been thinking about your reason to debate. Numero Uno. The Mother blasted out of her mind, drunk, by her own admission in the care of three small children, at the very least should be brought in for charges of child endangerment. Period. Well. Two children. The boys. Sissy Lisa gone missing. No kidding. Probably the end of her and no cooperation whatsoever or motivation to even lift a finger to attempt to find her. The hand writting is on the wall. Why the stonewalling? Face up.

[Miss Anthropic]

03:32 PM on 10/25/2011

Sadly for this "mother" she doesn't have a nice rear end like Casey Anthony. She will have the book thrown at her.

[Hannah Knise]

01:38 PM on 10/25/2011

Now about the phone he says he couldn't call home because they were off yet a week or so ago she said that the police were lieing about the ping on her cell because a call could not have been made because the bill had not been made and that she could only receive calls so the police were lieing about the ping and a phone call being made around 2:30. Any one got ideas?

[KSpeir]

10:12 AM on 10/26/2011

I don't understand...if a cell phone bill is not paid, you cannot receive calls, just like you cannot make calls. Never heard of this one. Phone off, you can't do either...wouldn't you think?

[Hannah Knise]

01:19 PM on 10/26/2011

Actually that isn't always true. With prepaid yes but with some company's they will let you do one or the other the first like 2 to 3 days your bill is due. I remember with one plan I had I could still get a call the first day or so but not make them and with another it was the other way around. But it is only for the first couple days so they would have had to just be over due not more then a few days. I firmly believe the police are not lieing and a call was made. Obviously they can tell if the bill was over due and what services were on or off. I honestly wonder if the father wasn't a part of this whole thing and at first legitimately thought she was taken. In interviews now he seems withdrawn and quiet and I think its because he is scared she really did something but is in denial.

[Gizzybeauty]

03:21 PM on 10/28/2011

Actually with T-Mobile, if your phone is disconnected you can receive calls but not make any outgoing calls for up to 2 weeks.

[Hannah Knise]

01:38 PM on 10/25/2011

SO I have a problem with some recent statements made by the father vrs. the mother. The father recently stated (a day or so ago) he wasn't meant to work late. He was actually meant to get off around 10-10:30 but had to stay latter and couldn't call home because their phones were off due to non payment. If he were to actually be getting off around 10-10:30ish then who was watching the kids when she made a booze run? That was around 5-5:30 I believe so That would mean he would have only been at work for around 4 hours give or take the time to get back from the store and him go to work. Was he just there to check on things but the wiring was all wrong so he had to stay and fix it? Did someone not show up? I mean I just don't see only meaning to work 4 hours. If it turns out he was actually at work when she went to get the booze who was with the kids? Were they at home with a sitter? or were they waiting in the car another bad parent move. If he was only soposed to go in for a few hours then why did he stay late?

[Celeste5793]

06:56 PM on 10/25/2011

Could it have been the neighbor who was watching the baby and boys while she went to the store with her brother. The same women she later sat out front and drank with at 6:40. The way I heard it that woman also has a child who was in the house with Deborah's two boys and baby while the mom's were outside.

[Hannah Knise]

07:19 PM on 10/25/2011

I was wondering I mean I really do not know. I have never heard officially they say he was home with the baby. I also believe the woman who claims to have been with her the police are looking into because I believe she has stated things that have been inconsistent to because she is Deborah's friend. I cannot back that up because i do not remember when or where I read it though. If I find an article that states that I will post it.

[KSpeir]

10:31 AM on 10/26/2011

I'm not sure, but seems I heard the father kept the kids while she went to the store and then left for work??? Darn, I am not sure about this though. Anybody know for sure? Strange this has not been mentioned like everything else over and over.

[excab2]

10:01 PM on 10/28/2011

Very good points. Daddy did not look like a very happy camper in that interview looking over at Mommy like he was not buying into any of her crap. A picture is worth a thousands words and that told it all.

[Norma Sapp]

07:04 AM on 10/25/2011

Just so you all are aware...dogs are not the end all, be all answer. Trained dogs react when their trainer tells them to. The dogs want to please the owner and the police, knowly or unknowly give body language that tells the dogs what they want.

[Celeste5793]

08:18 AM on 10/25/2011

Right and the police did not cut out the part of the carpet that would have the scent the dog supposedly picked up on. One person said that was because they don't really believe the finding or they would have cut out that part of the carpet. People are shown on tv walking all around the house now, reporters are too, and they are trampling all over the floor there so not taking the carpet was telling.

[Hannah Knise]

01:13 PM on 10/25/2011

I heared they took the carpet that it was like a throw carpet over it or they might have took fibers. They took carpet out of the baby's room maybe that had more traces on it but they just havnt said that yet. They might have done the tests they needed there on the carpet from the parents room so that way the parents didn't feel more cornered. I think they are doing what they need to. Do but keeping it quiet so as not to scare the parents. Everyone questioned the police getting a warrent cause the parents said they didn't need one but I bet they knew to get a wareent cause had they found any evidence with out it their lawyer would try to throw it out in court based on not having a warrent.

[Jolie Adams]

11:53 AM on 10/27/2011

The dog could have alerted to something lying on the floor, not the carpet, for example: a blanket, a child's toy, a piece of clothing, etc. This would be even more damning if it is on something that belongs to a family member. It would explain the carpet remaining intact on the floor. Also, Hannah's comment about another rug lying on top of the carpet is plausible, too.

[Jolie Adams]

11:55 AM on 10/27/2011

Highly trained FBI human remains detection dogs will do what they are trained to do--find the scent of human cadaverine. The dog finding the scent of death is not evidence itself, but a tool to find evidence that can be used to prove the facts of a crime. Read more at dogsdontlie dot com

[MaryinCA]

09:36 PM on 11/02/2011

Thanks for the site reference, Jolie; I'm going to check it out.

Signed, a dog lover who knows how smart they are!

[Missy Ruth]

04:48 AM on 10/25/2011

Well at least this gives the American Justice System a chance to do the right thing this time around when the mother is arrested. GUILTY AS CHARGED.

I know, I know. Innocent until proven guilty. If I were in her shoes, wouldn't I want the benefit of the doubt? Isn't freedom only free if . . . . oh screw it. I'm making an assumption, and I want nothing more than to be proven wrong, but something "stinks" and it isn't just the smell of a decaying body next to the bed.

[shellasaur]

11:48 PM on 10/24/2011

Lisa put to bed: 10:30 PM
First siting 12:45AM
That gives 2 hours and 15 minutes.
She would have began drinking AFTER putting her to bed, I mean quite honestly who would want to hold a baby while you're drinking?
If you are drinking heavily, that would take at least an hour to get fully blacked out, unless you chug it.
That is VERY risky for a person trying to break in, to not awake anyone at approximately 11:30. Meaning you would have had to have known your exact destination, than to have just browsed the house.
Why take the cell phones? Cell phones can be traced. IF the mother is guilty of taking the cell phones, if she had just left them in the first place that's one less thing cops would have immediately jumped towards. Just delete the text or call, and they won't have a reason to suspect.

[Hannah Knise]

01:16 PM on 10/25/2011

Actualy she put her to bed at 6:30 and never checked on her she lied about the 10:30 time frame. Also it wasn't a text but a call and when the police showed her the record of the pings of the call at 2:30 she said it can't be and that they are lieing. They have been tight lipped about who was called tho

[KSpeir]

10:49 AM on 10/26/2011

How did the father make a call to law enforcement that his child was missing then. He said he didn't call home because he didn't have a phone??? Do they have a home phone he called from, did he go to a neighbor's house to call? Also, why would anybody LIE to law enforcement about the time or anything and especially if your child is missing? The detectives usually always get to the truth of a lie, for instance, she was drinking with a neighbor so they can verify a timeline with the neighbor, etc., and why have we not seen the neighbor on TV. Bottomline is, if you care about helping and nothing to hide, why would you lie. Trying to hide that you are drinking is not a good enough excuse. Don't people also realize there are cameras everywhere now? If she was not caught on camera, she probably would not have even mentioned buying wine! This is a twist and more twist just like the murderer Casey Anthony that was set free by the PINELLAS County, Florida full of IGNORANT people. Who in the world had not heard of Casey Anthony that was on the AIR/TV for three years? What a bunch of duhs/air heads!!!