Government to Introduce Cadaver Dogs To Assist In Probe For Missing Persons

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced plans to bolster law enforcement’s investigative capabilities by introducing cadaver dogs trained to locate bodies and detect DNA evidence. This measure comes in the wake of the tragic murder of nine-year-old Chantel Crump, whose body was discovered in a bushy area in Weatherills early Saturday morning.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne, addressing the nation, vowed that his administration would not rest until justice is served. “We will stamp out this evil that has befallen our country before it spreads any further,” he declared, emphasizing the need for enhanced investigative tools to combat violent crimes.

“Not only will we bolster the investigative power of the Police, but we will also enhance their capacity by providing cadaver dogs trained to find bodies and to detect DNA traces of those involved in killings.”

Cadaver dogs, also known as human remains detection (HRD) dogs, are specially trained canines used by law enforcement and search-and-rescue teams to locate deceased individuals. These dogs are trained to detect the scent of human decomposition, including bodies, bones, blood, and other biological remains, even in challenging environments like water, rubble, or buried locations.

• They use their acute sense of smell, which is estimated to be 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human’s, to locate remains.
• They can detect human decomposition even if a body has been buried, submerged, or concealed.
• They are trained to differentiate between human remains and animal remains.
• Some are cross-trained to assist in disaster response, homicide investigations, and missing persons cases.
• Cadaver dogs are commonly used in murder investigations, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and forensic searches.
• Their ability to detect DNA traces makes them valuable in finding evidence related to violent crimes, even when bodies have been moved or concealed.

Authorities have since charged 20-year-old Angela Mejia with Chantel’s murder, less than 24 hours after the child’s body was found. According to police reports, Mejia led law enforcement officers to the location, a revelation that has shaken the nation and triggered widespread calls for swift justice.

Chantel, a student of Five Islands Primary School, was allegedly abducted on Wednesday afternoon while on her way home. Witnesses saw her waving to her schoolmates from a Honda car on Number 2 George Street in Grays Farm, marking the last time she was seen alive.

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