A police search for answers in a cold case in Miami took an unexpected turn when divers discovered more than 30 vehicles at the bottom of a lake.
The volunteer dive team, United Search Corps, led by founder Doug Bishop and diver Ken Fleming, had hoped to find a critical clue in an unsolved disappearance when they embarked on their search on Sunday.
According to Fleming, the case involved an individual who had driven from Pinellas County to pick up their relatives at Miami International Airport, only to vanish without a trace. Given the proximity of the lake to the airport and its easy accessibility, the team targeted it as a potential location for foul play.
However, instead of finding the clue they were searching for, the divers stumbled upon 32 submerged vehicles. This discovery adds to the total of 60 vehicles that the volunteer dive team has found underwater throughout the state of Florida, all of which are linked to crimes.
Upon making the discovery, the divers immediately contacted the Miami-Dade Police. The department dispatched its own dive team to assess the situation. Public Information Officer Alvaro Zabaleta estimated that there were approximately 20 cars in the lake, but emphasized that the precise number would remain unknown until each vehicle was retrieved.
Zabaleta clarified that the police did not anticipate finding any bodies or evidence of violent crime, but stressed the importance of conducting a thorough investigation. He stated, "We will do our due diligence because anything is possible."
While Zabaleta expressed skepticism about the newsworthiness of the discovery, he did acknowledge that the police hoped to solve more stolen vehicle cases. The first car pulled from the lake, a 2002 Cadillac Legend, had been reported stolen. Zabaleta speculated that the majority of the submerged cars would be connected to crime, whether they were stolen, abandoned, or involved in insurance fraud.
All the vehicles recovered so far are considered "antiques," ranging from 10 to 15 years old. Among them are a Ford Crown Victoria, an Econoline E-350, and a Cadillac DeVille. Zabaleta explained that when these cars were initially dumped into the lake, the surrounding area was a desolate business district, making it an ideal location for disposing of vehicles.
However, the area has since been developed, and access to the lake is now limited to a single point behind a medical practice on Northwest 12th Terrace. The police dive team faced logistical challenges in retrieving the cars, using buoys to move them within reach of a crane. Despite the difficulties, they managed to extract four cars in a six-hour period.
Zabaleta confirmed that members of the department's cold case squad were present during the operation, as they did not want to dismiss the possibility of finding evidence of a violent crime at the bottom of the lake. However, he noted that there was little forensic evidence that could be extracted from the vehicles unless a gun or other incriminating item was discovered inside.
The United Search Corps, on the other hand, conducts its own investigations into cold cases with the aim of providing answers to families who have been left in the dark. According to Bishop, the organization steps in when cases go cold and eliminates the strain on local police resources.
Zabaleta cautioned, however, that volunteers can potentially jeopardize criminal investigations. He expressed frustration with private investigators who withhold information from the police in order to continue their own investigations. Zabaleta emphasized that this approach hinders law enforcement's ability to follow proper legal procedures, potentially rendering any evidence they uncover inadmissible in court.
As the investigation into the submerged vehicles continues, the Miami-Dade Police remain committed to uncovering the truth behind these crimes and providing closure to the families affected.
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