MANSFIELD — Mansfield Police say detectives conducted a fruitless search last month for a knife and other weapon-related evidence at the Miller Road bridge over the Black Fork of the Mohican River.
Authorities believed the items were used in connection with the case involving missing Mansfield resident Patsy Hudson. Police chief Ken Coontz said the March 9 search involved a dive team. He said detectives got a tip that the evidence had been thrown over the bridge many months ago.
The bridge is near the area authorities found bones suspected to belong to Hudson in early February.
Coontz declined to comment on where detectives received the tip and who provided it. The search also involved metal detectors as investigators scanned the river’s shores. Coontz said detectives were not hopeful in finding anything.
“We were pretty certain that most of the evidence would have flowed down the creek by the time we looked for it. That river flows very high and very fast at times,” he said.
Walter Renz and Linda Buckner are being held in the Richland County Jail on receiving stolen property charges. Renz is wanted in Arkansas for a probation violation; Buckner is wanted in Kentucky for a parole violation.
The couple has yet to be charged with murder; however, Richland County Prosecutor Bambi Bouch Page said at a press conference in February she is convinced that Hudson was the victim of a horrific crime. Renz and Buckner were her next-door neighbors. Hudson hasn’t been seen since July 4, 2015.
“Both (Renz and Buckner) have provided statements to law enforcement that allege a series of criminal acts that include a horrific crime committed against a defenseless victim,” Page said during the press conference.
Page said Monday she is still waiting to hear back from Dennis Dirkmaat, the professor from Mercyhurst University who collected evidence from human remains on Sunday, Feb. 7 with his team of Forensic and Biological Anthropology Master’s students from Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA.
“We’re getting closer,” Dirkmaat said.
Timeline of events for Hudson case
July 4, 2015: Hudson gets into a dispute with neighbor about a cat. A police report was filed at Mansfield Police Department.
Dec. 22. 2015: Missing person’s report is filed by Hudson’s sister, Patricia Rentz.
Jan. 12, 2016: The Mansfield Police Department asks for the public’s help in locating Hudson. Police learn Hudson was last seen on July 4 and that Hudson’s neighbors, Walter T. Renz and his girlfriend Linda Buckner, were moving out that same day.
Jan. 27, 2016: Mansfield police perform a search of Hudson’s house and her neighbor’s house, which belonged to Renz and Buckner. According to the search warrants, police were searching for signs of Hudson’s abduction. The warrant stated they were searching for items including a body, blood and other bodily fluids.
Feb. 1, 2016: Authorities launch a national manhunt in search for Renz and Buckner.
Feb. 4, 2016: Renz and Buckner are arrested in Tennessee after the U.S. Marshals Task Force tracked down the use of Hudson’s stolen credit card. Renz is charged with receiving stolen property (the credit card) and Buckner is charged with violating probation in Kentucky.
Feb. 7, 2016: Mansfield police report the remains of a body, believed to be that of the missing Patsy Hudson, have been discovered.
Feb. 10, 2016: Both Renz and Buckner are arraigned at Mansfield Municipal Court and plead not guilty on the charges of receiving stolen property (Hudson’s credit card).
Feb. 11, 2016: Renz appears for a preliminary hearing in front of Municipal Judge Frank Ardis, where his case was bound over to the Richland County Grand Jury.
Feb. 12, 2016: Law enforcement agencies hold a press conference to announce no new details can be released due to the fact that the investigation is ongoing. The remains found earlier in the week that are believed to belong to Hudson have not been positively identified. However, Richland County Prosecutor believes the information appears to support the allegation that a horrible crime was committed against Hudson.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
