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October 05, 2005
Officials Investigating Missing Va. Teen Find Remains
VIENNA, Va. -- Detectives investigating the disappearance of a freshman Virginia Commonwealth University student are in Mathews County, Va., where remains have been found in a shallow grave, News4 reported.
Investigators do not know if the remains are those of Taylor Behl, a 17-year-old from Vienna, who has been missing since Sept. 5.
Numerous law enforcement officials are on the scene, including the task force investigating Behl's disappearance. Mathews County is a rural area about 80 miles east of Richmond. Police have gathered in a field that is just off of a farm road, News4's Pat Collins reported.
The investigation into Behl's disappearance began with campus police. Richmond police and the FBI then joined in.
On Tuesday, sources told News4 that a grand jury was getting involved in the case.
The grand jury investigation will provide for interrogation by prosecutors, witness testimony under oath and penalties for those caught lying, News4 reported.
"The stakes are higher, and so you would think that the leads that come from a grand jury have more credibility than if it came simply from statements made to a police officer when somebody is not under penalty of perjury," said Steve Shannon, a Fairfax County prosecutor and member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Behl's mother has returned to Vienna but says she is still apprised of the investigation. She had been staying in Richmond since her daughter disappeared.
Behl was last seen in her dormitory at about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 5. She is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. Police said she was last seen wearing blue jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt.
Behl graduated from James Madison High School in the spring. She had been at VCU for only two weeks before she disappeared, her mother said.
Posted by Nealus at October 5, 2005 09:17 PM
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