08/11/08

                            POLICE EXCAVATE LAND IN

                MISSING PERSON INVESTIGATION

In August of 2004 a missing person complaint was filed reporting the disappearance of WILLIAM SMOLINSKI.   The missing person to date has not been located.

The missing person investigation was turned over to the FBI in an effort to attempt to determine if any interstate criminal violations had taken place. During the course of their investigation the FBI requested the assistance of the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Detectives. State Police Detectives were assigned to work with the FBI in furthering this investigation.

Since the disappearance of the SMOLINSKI, FBI and State Police investigators have been working with Shelton Police and Seymour Police. Several Police Investigators have recently developed investigative leads in this case. This information has caused investigators to initiate a search for evidence of a crime.  This search is taking place on private land located on Bungay Rd. in Seymour.

On Friday 08/08/08 the FBI, State Police Major Crime Squad Detectives and Shelton and Seymour Police started a systematic search of private land in Seymour.  The search of this land has received the full cooperation of the land owner who has no involvement whatsoever in this investigation.

Investigators are continuing to search the Seymour property today and are continuing this effort with the assistance of the Town of Seymour Public Works who are operating the excavation equipment.

The FBI, State Police, Seymour, and Shelton Police are continuing this investigation.

###END###

LT. J. Paul Vance