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Investigators Gather Evidence in Smart Case

(KSL TV) Charges are expected to be filed today in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart.

Investigators say that they have gathered quite a bit of evidence against Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee, some of it coming from the campsite where Elizabeth spent the first few months of her captivity.

On Sunday Elizabeth showed the site to police -- revealing that the three had stayed in a concealed hole Mitchell dug himself or some kind of underground structure.

The site was very well concealed, so searchers on the ground or in the air never spotted anything out of the ordinary.

Chris Thomas/Family Spokesperson: "THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEARCHED THAT CANYON WHO DIDN'T SEE THEM, AND HAVE CARRIED ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF GUILT, AND CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT. THE FAMILY WANTS THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY DID THE RIGHT THING."

At the site investigators reportedly found an incredible amount of evidence including possibly the knife used in the kidnapping, and a rope.

Thanks for the article, Utah Girl. I had read a similar one from this same KSL which was posted by Kim4VRWC's on another thread (post #60, New Details on Campsite....MUST READ.) It was dated Mar. 17 and specifically mentioned boards covered with dirt.

The above article doesn't mention "boards covered with dirt", specifically. It does mention searchers on the ground did not see anything out of the ordinary which seems to imply ground searchers were in the area (Elizabeth could hear them calling). It does say that the three of them hid in the hole. What I have been questioning is: how could the 3 of them be hidden in that hole and dirt still remain on top of the boards. Devil Anse and I have theorized that perhaps Mitchell put Liz and what's-her-face in the hole, placed the boards on top of the hole and then covered the boards with dirt. But then, there would be only 2 in the hole, and it seems like that dirt in and around the area would be disturbed. If you put 3 in the hole, Mitchell could from the underside put boards on top, but where does the dirt come from to camouflage the boards from the ground searchers? Am I making any sense?

I'm sorry that I've forgotten the name of that particular thread, but it seems that it is "Smart Coverage...(something another).