Amaral and the dogs

[ferryman]

Who in the PJ would have contacted the FBI for their specialist Scent Transfer Unit 101 equipment prior to the dogs arriving?

Almost certainly no one, because the STU100 is a device for trapping the scents of living people and storing them so that repeat offenders can be identified by scent (one of the scents emitted by living people is unique).

http://www.crimesciences.com/StoreBox/otherevidencecollectkits/stu-100.htm

... and gives law enforcement a scent pad to store in scent banks for future use on repeat offenders.

[Alice Purjorick]

The ground was totally unsuitable for an actual grid to be laid out and worked.  But I am sure they worked to pre planned areas in much the fashion you have described.

I am certain the 2014 dogs would have alerted to human remains whether in whole or in part had there been any to be found ... I think there is a fair chance they would have alerted to contaminated clothing or materials.

I follow exactly what you are saying regarding the way in which the dogs were promoted ... but an unbiased observation might have led a more inquisitive investigator to question the hard sell just as  Inspector Joao Carlos did.

Perhaps (I don't know) the covers lifted were chosen because they allowed camera access to more of the drainage network?

The days of stakes and string lines are long gone.

[Brietta]

The days of stakes and string lines are long gone.

If you really feel the need for constant criticism ... at least make the attempt to make it constructive   

[Alice Purjorick]

If you really feel the need for constant criticism ... at least make the attempt to make it constructive   

You said the terrain was unsuitable for working to a grid.
Back that up explaining how and why and what equipment you have assumed would be necessary and why it would not be possible to use it at the particular location. That'll do for starters.
If you don't understand stakes and string lines and can't answer my question then you simply do not know what you are talking about.

[misty]

Almost certainly no one, because the STU100 is a device for trapping the scents of living people and storing them so that repeat offenders can be identified by scent (one of the scents emitted by living people is unique).

http://www.crimesciences.com/StoreBox/otherevidencecollectkits/stu-100.htm

... and gives law enforcement a scent pad to store in scent banks for future use on repeat offenders.

Thank you for that. One wonders why Amaral made reference to the equipment being requested if that is its purpose.

[ferryman]

Thank you for that. One wonders why Amaral made reference to the equipment being requested if that is its purpose.

In his profile, Grime makes reference to the STU100, which he claims to have adapted for training purposes.

I'll see if I can dig out the reference:

I have developed the training of the E.V.R.D. to include the screening of scent pads

taken from motor vehicles, property or scenes by a ST100 Scent Transference Unit.

The unit is designed in a two-part design. The main body is a battery operated

elect.rica1 device that draws air in at to the front and exhausts through the rear. There is no 're-circulation' of air within the unit. The second part is a 'grilled' hood that fits to the main body. A sterile gauze pad is fitted into the hood. When operated, the ST100 draws air through the hood and the sterile gauze pad and exhausts through
ports to the rear. 'Scent' is trapped in the gauze, which may then be forensically

stored for use within scent discrimination exercises.

The ST 100 unit is cleaned following use in such a manner that no residual scent is

apparent. This is checked by control measures where the dog is allowed to search a

given area where the S 100 is secreted. Any response by the dog would suggest

contamination. Tests have shown that the decontamination procedures are effective in this case with the dog NOT alerting to the device when completed.

Use of the ST 100 is recommended when subject vehicles, property, clothing, premises

are to be forensically protected from contamination by the dog, and for covert

deployment. At a11 other times best practice would be for the dog to be given direct access.

Martin Grime.

[misty]

In his profile, Grime makes reference to the STU100, which he claims to have adapted for training purposes.

I'll see if I can dig out the reference:

I have developed the training of the E.V.R.D. to include the screening of scent pads

taken from motor vehicles, property or scenes by a ST100 Scent Transference Unit.

The unit is designed in a two-part design. The main body is a battery operated

elect.rica1 device that draws air in at to the front and exhausts through the rear. There is no 're-circulation' of air within the unit. The second part is a 'grilled' hood that fits to the main body. A sterile gauze pad is fitted into the hood. When operated, the ST100 draws air through the hood and the sterile gauze pad and exhausts through
ports to the rear. 'Scent' is trapped in the gauze, which may then be forensically

stored for use within scent discrimination exercises.

The ST 100 unit is cleaned following use in such a manner that no residual scent is

apparent. This is checked by control measures where the dog is allowed to search a

given area where the S 100 is secreted. Any response by the dog would suggest

contamination. Tests have shown that the decontamination procedures are effective in this case with the dog NOT alerting to the device when completed.

Use of the ST 100 is recommended when subject vehicles, property, clothing, premises

are to be forensically protected from contamination by the dog, and for covert

deployment. At a11 other times best practice would be for the dog to be given direct access.

Martin Grime.

Does that imply that the PJ weren't bothered if the dogs contaminated the areas/objects which were to be examined? Otherwise, they surely would have waited for the equipment to arrive.

[ferryman]

Does that imply that the PJ weren't bothered if the dogs contaminated the areas/objects which were to be examined? Otherwise, they surely would have waited for the equipment to arrive.

Only a personal opinion, but I think it more likely that Amaral just invented what he said in his book (based on what he read from Grime's profile) because it sounded good.

We know the PJ cribbed from translated literature Mark Harrison gave them in their write-up of the inspection in the gym, and I think you have roughly the same phenomenon with Amaral's reference in his book to the STU100

[stephen25000]

Summed up succinctly.

Re the Welsh dogs ... I think a seven year gap would have made the exercise futile as far as searching for evidence of human remains is concerned, the 'scent of death' or whatever Eddie alerted to wouldn't have hung around ... the time to have brought the dogs in was after Madeleine's disappearance not months after the event.

Why a limit of 7 years or less ?

Now that seven year thing sounds familiar.

[Brietta]

Why a limit of 7 years or less ?

Now that seven year thing sounds familiar.

I'm not quite sure what point you are trying to make.  Read the conversation from which my post you have quoted arises, then get back to me.

[ShiningInLuz]

Why a limit of 7 years or less ?

Now that seven year thing sounds familiar.

The Welsh dogs were deployed in Luz seven years on from Madeleine's disappearance, hence the reference to 7 years.

As to Amaral and the dogs, it has taken me months to get beyond what looks like marketing to a more accurate picture of the original dog teams capability.  And I did not have British political pressure or media hype to influence me.

As to the 2014 dig on the mound, think of the mound as a dart board and have someone who is not good at darts throw half a dozen darts at the target.  The areas searched were not contiguous and they did not search (in any detail) the whole of the mound.  They skipped from site to site much like butterflies flitting about.

[Alice Purjorick]

The Welsh dogs were deployed in Luz seven years on from Madeleine's disappearance, hence the reference to 7 years.

As to Amaral and the dogs, it has taken me months to get beyond what looks like marketing to a more accurate picture of the original dog teams capability.  And I did not have British political pressure or media hype to influence me.

As to the 2014 dig on the mound, think of the mound as a dart board and have someone who is not good at darts throw half a dozen darts at the target.  The areas searched were not contiguous and they did not search (in any detail) the whole of the mound.  They skipped from site to site much like butterflies flitting about.

That would beg the question: why?
I can only think of two reasons. Prejudgment/intelligence of likely places to search or it was a PR exercise.
I don't really subscribe to the last idea.

[Brietta]

That would beg the question: why?
I can only think of two reasons. Prejudgment/intelligence of likely places to search or it was a PR exercise.
I don't really subscribe to the last idea.

Aerial surveys were carried out and areas of interest would be noted.  We have been made aware of the difficult terrain in PDL which would mean that any ground disturbance would be for a reason and not just kids playing in a hole.

I was particularly intrigued by the reaction of some when the corrugated iron covered hole was investigated, who stated words to the effect that everyone knew of its existence ... the question being ... was the covering removed and the hole searched in 2007?

[Alice Purjorick]

Aerial surveys were carried out and areas of interest would be noted.  We have been made aware of the difficult terrain in PDL which would mean that any ground disturbance would be for a reason and not just kids playing in a hole.

I was particularly intrigued by the reaction of some when the corrugated iron covered hole was investigated, who stated words to the effect that everyone knew of its existence ... the question being ... was the covering removed and the hole searched in 2007?

Were I doing the job I would not re-trace steps taken by the original investigation if I were satisfied of their completeness simply because of the cost of duplication of effort to no better end.
Areas of which there were no record for any reason what ever I would cover. Not being party to any of it means we are surmising but it seems not unreasonable to conclude:
The areas were searched and records were not kept/lost/misfiled/incomplete.
The areas were not searched.
It was a PR exercise.
fait vos jeux.
I still don't like the PR option so "mon jeux" is on one of the others.

[pegasus]

"August 2007. OPERATION TASK CANINE SEARCH REPORT... (snip)... The following searches were conducted: (snip) ... Western beach Praia da Luz ... (snip)"
No video or photos of this dog search have been released.
Does "western beach" mean the little beach on the west side of the fort?
This is the closest beach to the sighting which Mr Amaral thinks is important.
Shining do you know anything about the history of the big rectangular drain here?
It looks much older than the modern round drains.