JPD utilizing high-tech device to close in on Byerly suspects
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan A PAIR OF FBI OFFICERS out of the Houston office came to Jasper last week to help the Jasper Police Department with the Martin Byerly case.The instrument used will help trace scents in Byerly's vehicle and be able to determine who has been in the truck over the past two years.

Using new technology and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Jasper Police are hoping they might move a "step closer in locating Martin Byerly.

Byerly has been missing since Sept. 28, 2007 and authorities have stepped up the investigation this past week in order to see if any new information can be found.

Two officers from the Houston office of the FBI conducted tests on Byerly's truck at the Jasper Police Department Thursday, Jan. 10.

"They use this machine that has just enough vacuum to take in scents that are in the truck all the way to two years ago," said Jasper Police Crime Scene Technician Connie Jordan. "It will detect the scent of anyone that was in that vehicle during the past two years. This will help us to find the suspects that we believe were in that vehicle."

Former Jasper police officer Jeff Coulter informed Det. Mike Poindexter of the technology. He had seen it used during a policetraining seminar at TDCJ.

"They take all the scent samples and store them and then later they will come back with the scent dog and we will then find out all the people that we know have been in the truck but this will help us find out the people that are unknown."

By using scent-trained dogs, police will be able to determine just who might be lying about being in the truck. The dogs will come in from Quantico, VA.

"People like police officials will be eliminated because we know we have been in that truck," Poindexter said. "But people who say they have never been in that truck and we detect a scent from them in the truck, then we know they are lying."

Jasper Police believe the technology will move the department closer to solving this case.

"We have people who are telling us they have never been in that truck," Poindexter said. "We have never been around that truck, we know nothing about that truck. But these are people that we are talking to in this case."

Poindexter said all the subjects would be present when the dog is brought in and they will eliminate each subject that has been in the truck.

"This technology has been proven and used in trucks for the last 10 years," Poindexter said. "It was developed in the UK and used there extensively."

Jordan explained of a test that was conducted using the technology recently at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.

"A man went into an empty Rose Bowl and made a trail and went and sat in a chair," Jordan said. "They had the Rose Bowl in there, bad weather and another event and after that they brought the dog back in and he followed the path right to the chair the man was sitting in."

"I have worked with dogs for a long time," Poindexter said. "There is no doubt in mind that they work."

Byerly was last seen at Jake's Place on U.S. Highway 96 in Jasper. His white 1990 Chevrolet pickup truck was found Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Payless Shoe Source store located on Highway 190 in Jasper.

Byerly is described as a while male, 5'11" and weighing 185 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes and a mustache.

Poindexter said that on the evening that Byerly went missing he was wearing a straw hat and a red, white, blue and yellow stripped shirt, jeans and boots.

Anyone with information on Martin Byerly's disappearance is urged to contact Poindexter at 409-384-3471 or call EasTex CrimeStoppers at 409-724-TIPS.