Search of Becket Pond Yields No Clues In Lewis Lent Murder Case
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Police spent three days searching the pond for the body of James Lusher, who went missing 21 years ago. |
BECKET, Mass. — After three days of divers searching Greenwater Pond, Police were unable to locate the body of James "Jamie" Lusher, who earlier this week Lewis Lent confessed to murdering 21 years ago.
But, Lusher's sister is taking solace in at least knowing his final resting place is a tranquil body of water she can stop by anytime.
"We believe this was his final resting place. He is here. When I drive down the Mass Pike I will blow him a kiss because I know this is his spot," said Jennier Nowak Thursday when Police were ending the search.
Lusher went missing in 1992 when he was 16 years old. The Westfield teen was last seen riding his bicycle to his grandmother's home in Blandford.
The case had gone cold until earlier this week when law enforcement announced that Lent had murdered the boy and disposed of the body in the pond.
The State Police, New York State Police and Environmental Police conducted a three day search of the pond this week, culminating on Thursday. But, the search did not locate the body, nor any other clues.
"In our minds, the Massachusetts State Police, the New York State Police and the Environmental Police, this is not over today, not by a long shot," said state police spokesman David Procopio. "We will be back here, we will be in this lake again. None of us will forget Jamie at all."
Despite coming up empty on this week's search, Lusher's father, James "Jim" Lusher, is thankful for the efforts of law enforcement, attention of the media and to know where his son's remains are located.
"These are excellent people who I feel do this not because it is a job. They have a passion for it and they put forth every effort possible to find my son's remains," Lusher said. "Unfortunately, to date that hasn't happened. We are realistically optimistic. Eventually something will turn up."
For former North Adams resident Lent, this is his third murder confession while he is suspected in a number of others. Lent is currently serving consecutive life sentences with no parole for the murders of 12-year-old Jimmy Bernardo, of Pittsfield, and Sara Anne Wood, also 12, of Frankfort, N.Y.
Wood's body was never recovered despite exhaustive searches but he led Police to Bernardo's body. In 1996, he pleaded guilty to Bernardo's murder and a year later confessed to killing Wood. He led police on fruitless searches for Wood's body in the past but authorities are confident that Lusher's body is in the pond.
"He unwittingly place my son in a place that my son would love. And now I feel fairly confident that I also can come to a specific spot on this lake and feel confident that is where his body was placed and I can talk to him," Lusher said. "Someday I will see him again - not on this earth but I am confident I will see him again."
Procopio is hoping that the recent attention to the pond will trigger memories for residents, who at some point in the last 21 years may have seen something in or around the water.
"If you can think back in your memories and remember something, call the State Police. We'd be very grateful for any leads and any tips," Procopio said.
He asked residents to be mindful of any articles of clothing or personal items they may have seen or will see in or around the lake.
A team of 18 divers had descended on Becket for three days searching through the silt at the bottom of the lake. Investigators said before starting that it would be difficult to find the body at this point. Nonetheless, the divers took to the pond in shifts for full days searching the bottom of the pond.
"This has been, not amazing, but the most incredible thing I've ever seen for my brother," Nowak said.
Tags: lakes, ponds, lewis lent, missing persons, murder, search,
