A three-day search in southwest Iowa that followed a woman’s claims that her late father was a serial killer turned up no evidence, state officials said Thursday.
The exhumation took place at a property in Thurman, in Fremont County, where the woman claimed the bodies were buried, said Mitch Mortvedt, an assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
The state Department of Public Security, of which the division is a part, said in a pronunciation“After exhaustive efforts, no evidence or other concerns were recovered.”
Lucy Studey has claimed that her late father, Donald Dean Studey, was a serial killer who buried bodies around his property in Thurman, according to News weekwho first reported the story.
Mortvedt said the investigation is over.
“There is nothing further to corroborate the allegations against Mr. Studyy,” he said.
Susan, Lucy Studey’s sister, said on Thursday that the allegations against her father were “absolutely untrue”.
“I love my sister very much, but she was wrong-footed somewhere in her life,” Susan said in a telephone interview. She said her late father’s name has been cleared.
The Department of Public Safety said the recent excavation “involved a range of experts representing a variety of disciplines and significant resources to excavate, collect and examine soil samples from a site identified by a reporting party.”
Lucy Studyy stood by her claims on Thursday.
“My full siblings and I know what really happened, and I’m the only one telling the truth,” she said, adding, “I was told at the beginning that the investigation is a marathon, not a sprint.”
The Department of Public Security said last month it worked with federal and local authorities to try to confirm the report of “multiple historic murders” in rural Fremont County, which has a population of 6,600.