Page 66 of Preying Game

While Frampton rewarded Daisy with praise and dog treats, the Decorah agents went back to the SUV for their shovels and the goggles so they’d be able to see fine details and wouldn’t dig right through a decomposed body. Working carefully, they began poking around in the now hardened ground.

“I think the graves won’t be more than a few feet down,” Frampton said as he and Daisy withdrew to let the agents work.

Jonah was the first to feel his shovel blade hit what was either a small rock or bone. He and Grant switched to trowels and began scooping earth away. After a few minutes, they uncovered a pelvic bone.

The dog came leaping over, and Frampton had to restrain her.

They collected a DNA sample from the bone, then began looking for more.

“I can help,” Frampton said.

“Appreciate it.”

After taking the dog back to the vehicle, he joined the Decorah agents in the digging.

With all three working, it took only another couple of hours to find the five victims and to bag samples.

They were just heading back to the car when Daisy started barking furiously.

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