By C. Johnson
News 10
April 11, 2009
http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=57640&provider=top
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| Sandra Cantu |
TRACY, CA - Law enforcement served a second search warrant Friday on Clover Road Baptist Church in Tracy in the investigation into the death of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu.
The church property, including a shed, was raided earlier in the week. The church pastor, Lane Lawless, lives in nearby Orchard Estates mobile home park where Sandra lived and was last seen alive on security tape March 27. Her body was recovered Monday from a suitcase in a holding pond two miles from the mobile home park. Autopsy results have not been released.
Earlier Friday afternoon, Tracy police responded to a local newspaper report that the granddaughter of Lawless, Melissa Huckaby, said she had a suitcase disappear the same day Sandra vanished. The woman didn't report the possible theft to police and Sgt. Tony Sheneman also said was no report of a stolen suitcase filed.
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| Clover Road Baptist Church in Tracy |
Sheneman also said the homicide investigation could mean more search warrants served on individuals, locations and vehicles but would not elaborate further.
Police have conducted dozens of interviews, including the residents of Orchard Estates. At least 15 search warrants have been served, at least six of them on residences in the mobile home park. Several vehicles were impounded.
"No one's been eliminated," Sheneman said.
Approximately 1,500 tips have come in to investigators, 400 of them since the girl's body was found.
"I would say we're making good progress," Sheneman said.
Condolences, Memorial Service
Fry Memorial Chapel on S. Central Avenue in Tracy is open for the community to write their messages to Sandra's family in a condolence book. The chapel is open Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The public memorial service for the victim is scheduled for Thursday, April 16 at West High School in Tracy on the 1700 block of West Lowell Avenue. Police said as of Friday there was seating for about 3,000 mourners but there were plans to try to open the stadium to the service. If that is possible, Sheneman said there would be room for as many as 8,000 to attend.
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| Shed of property of Clover Road Baptist Church in Tracy |
He also said there were only about 500 parking spaces around West High so he urged mourners to arrive early to find parking and be prepared to walk a distance.
Reward
The Tracy Crime Stoppers reward fund has grown to $32,000. Sheneman said anyone who still wishes to make a contribution might consider designating it for the Cantu family for expenses.
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