Landfill search in Kelsey Berreth case could come with high costs

Given the lengthy search ahead of the Midway Landfill for evidence in the Kelsey Berreth case, it could end up costing quite a bit of money.

Woodland Park Police say, ten people, for eight hours a day, for five days a week are dedicated to searching for anything in the case for a total of at least 35 days.

A similar case out of Phoenix, Ariz. is playing out right now. Christine Mustafa went missing in 2017, investigators believe her boyfriend killed her and dumped her body in a landfill.

The Phoenix Police Department told KRDO NewsChannel 13 that they along with state and federal agencies searched that landfill with rakes and cadaver dogs for three months with anywhere between 20 and 40 people per day.

In total, it cost more than $1.3 million, which included protective gear, tools, and overtime pay.

Even with all that money spent, they did not find Mustafa’s body.

While Woodland Park Police aren’t using cadaver dogs and won’t have as many people out each day as Phoenix Police did, the cost could still add up.

Tad DiBiase, a no body murder expert, believes there is a chance investigators could find something.

“Really not very much amount of time has passed in order for there not to be a chance to not find something,” DiBiase said.

Woodland Park Police aren’t searching the Midway Landfill alone, state and local agencies are helping. Both the Pueblo Police Department and Fountain Police Department confirm they have sent personnel to help in the search.