Staff Writer
From staff reports
JOPLIN, Mo. —
Four police officers with the 118th St. Task Force out of Albuquerque, N.M., are in Joplin today as part of an investigation into the discovery of the remains of at least 12 people found in that area of Albuquerque, which also has been called the West Mesa Murders. It is characterized as one of the largest crime scene investigations in that city’s history.
Detective Tod Babcock, with the task force, described Ron Erwin, of Joplin, as a “person of interest,” but added that he is “one of many.”
Erwin is the owner of building at 411 S. Main St. and also a house at 414 W. 26th St., in Joplin, which were searched earlier today.
Babcock said the Task Force is spending 95 percent of its time on the West Mesa murders.
Nadine Hamby, spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department, said the investigation is in an evidence-gathering phase and that no one is custody.
She also said that none of the victims appeared to have any ties to the Joplin area.
