Students Prepare for Weekend Search
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CARROLL COUNTY, Tenn.- Dozens of students have traveled to West Tennessee from Baltimore, Md. to investigate a cold case in Henry County. “The more we look at it , it’s such a big area the more likely we might find Rachel,” said Louise Younger, victim’s mother. Nearly 40 criminal justice students from Towson University are helping the family of local missing woman Rachel Conger. Deputies said Rachel has been missing since March 13, 2008. She was last seen getting into a truck with her estranged husband Paul Conger, who committed suicide shortly after her disappearance. The students of Towson learned of Rachel’s disappearance and wanted to help. “Not knowing where or how or exactly what went on is why I’m here there’s always answers it’s just finding out where to look,” said volunteer student Sidney Boone. Southeast K-9 Search and Rescue along with the students of Towson and volunteers from Smyrna CB Rescue Squad and Jodi Powers Search and Rescue plan to search for Rachel this weekend on the Land Between the Lakes in Stewart County. Students practiced with cadaver dogs at Bethel University, Friday. “They are trained to find only human remains at any age,” said Julie Allen, Carroll County EMA. Allen said their cadaver dogs flag human remains after smelling the odor of blood, tissue, teeth or bone that’s buried underneath dirt rubble or water. In some cases, the dogs have found human remains up to 30 feet under ground. For the first time deputies handed over case details to students that have never been made public before. “I think it takes different perspectives to understand, there are a lot of possibilities of things that could have happened,” said student Brianna Hill. Officials said the last time Conger’s cell phone pinged was on the morning she disappeared near the Swan Bay area, which is 40 minutes north of her home. Deputies said they want students to consider all of the possibilities of what happened to Conger after the last use of her cell phone and when her husband returned home alone two hours after the phone ping. “We’re trying to figure out where to look for sentimental places and looking just at the behavioral parts of it,” said Boone. “What might have been going on in Paul’s mind since he’s the prime suspect.” The students are searching in Henry and Stewart County both Saturday and Sunday with search and rescue groups. “I mean who knows maybe we are searching an area that hasn’t been searched or an area that has been searched and we could come across something that was just overlooked,” said student Tara White. For more information on this search, the case, or teams participating please call Chris Williams at (931) 209-8863. If you have any information in the disappearance of Rachel Conger call the Henry County Sheriff’s Department tip hot line at (731) 642-0929.
