SUGARCREEK TWP. — UPDATE @6 p.m.:
Coe’s mother, Shula Woodworth, said Tuesday she had no contact with law enforcement about the search at Sugarcreek MetroPark.
person of interest in case of missing Miamisburg woman
“It’s upsetting, really,” Woodworth told this news organization, noting that she has not heard from law enforcement about the investigation of her daughter in “some time,” perhaps as far back as May.
A similar search occurred in Miamisburg beginning May 1, months after Woodworth reported her daughter missing in September 2017.
“When they were digging, I knew they were going to do that - on the property” in Miamisburg, she said. “That’s all they’ve pretty much told me. They haven’t informed me of anything else.”
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On May 1, Coe’s last-known address on Lower Miamisburg Road was raided and excavated. More than a dozen FBI, Ohio BCI, Miamisburg police and crews from the south suburban Tactical Crime Suppression Unit were part of that search, authorities said.
UPDATE @12:46 p.m.:
The search today of a a local park is in connection with the disappearance of Chelsey Coe, Miamisburg Police Chief John Sedlak confirmed this afternoon. The search is expected to go on for up to three days, he said.
The search started in the park about 6:30 Tuesday morning, and law enforcement officials are looking for any evidence related to Coe’s whereabouts, according to a press release.
The search is expected to last until about 3 p.m. each day.
UPDATE @ 10:43 a.m.:
Miamisburg police, the FBI and cadaver dogs are on the scene at Sugarcreek MetroPark, which is closed to the public.
Officials have not said what prompted the investigation, but the same agencies earlier this year were involved in multiple days searching for Chelsey Coe, who was 25 in September 2017 when her mother reported her missing from Miamisburg.
RELATED COVERAGE:
Sugarcreek MetroPark will be closed through Thursday, according to a note posted on its website. We have made multiple attempts to reach Miamisburg police for comment and are awaiting a response.
“We are conducting law enforcement activity in the area,” said Todd Lindgren, spokesman for the FBI. “(I) have no more details to provide at this time.”
Miamisburg police have been investigating the Coe case since 2017 and in early May raided a property at 551 Lower Miamisburg Road.
That week, Miamisburg Sgt. Jeff Muncy said they had a “strong person of interest” in the case, but have identified him only as a male.
Police Chief John Sedlak said that person has “not specifically” been cooperative with authorities.
On May 1, More than a dozen FBI, Ohio BCI, Miamisburg police and crews from the south suburban Tactical Crime Suppression Unit were part of the search, authorities said. That search, which included excavation, began about 8 a.m. and ended that day after about 14 hours.
They resumed May 3 and the search last about 10 hours. Authorities used excavation equipment to dig up land at 551 and 565 Lower Miamisburg and also used ground-penetrating radar and canine units.
Few details have been released on what evidence authorities have found on Lower Miamisburg.
Sedlak said that week “we will be analyzing and evaluating the items seized during the searches….to determine where that may lead us. It is too early to determine that at this time.” Coe’s mother, Shula Woodworth of Adams County, reported her daughter missing last September after not hearing from Coe for a couple of months.
At that time, she was described as 5-foot-7, 150 pounds with blue eyes, blonde hair with a “Love” tattoo on her hip, and one of stars on her lower back, according to police.
UPDATE @ 10:06 a.m.: Miamisburg police, the FBI and cadaver dogs are on the scene at Sugarcreek Metropark.
INITIAL REPORT: The Sugarcreek Metropark is closed to the public this morning and at least one police cruiser is on the scene.
We’re working to learn the reason for the closure.
