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The Morning Brew: Authorities searching for human remains in case of Carina Saunders

Juliana Keeping
by Juliana Keeping
Published: Mon, April 10, 2017 3:47 PM Updated: Tue, April 11, 2017 9:17 AM

It's Tuesday. Here's a summary of the headlines:

Authorities searching for human remains in case of Carina Saunders

Her family last saw her on Sept. 28, 2011.

This undated photo provided by the Bethany, Okla. Police Department shows Carina Saunders. Investigators in a small Oklahoma City suburb have asked the FBI to help them identify possible suspects in the death of the 19-year-old woman, whose dismembered body was found in a duffel bag, the deputy chief of police said Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Bethany Police Department) ORG XMIT: OKSO101
This undated photo provided by the Bethany, Okla. Police Department shows Carina Saunders. Investigators in a small Oklahoma City suburb have asked the FBI to help them identify possible suspects in the death of the 19-year-old woman, whose dismembered body was found in a duffel bag, the deputy chief of police said Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Bethany Police Department) ORG XMIT: OKSO101

Authorities found the 19-year-old's body on Oct. 13, 2011, dismembered behind a Bethany grocery store. 

More than five years later, crews excavated the grounds of a northwest Oklahoma City home looking for evidence. Not all of her body was found in the duffel bag. 

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials search through dirt and debris at a home in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 10, 2017, where they are using ground-penetrating radar to look for remains in connection with the Carina Saunders murder. The body of the 19-year-old woman was found dismembered a duffle bag in October of 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials search through dirt and debris at a home in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 10, 2017, where they are using ground-penetrating radar to look for remains in connection with the Carina Saunders murder. The body of the 19-year-old woman was found dismembered a duffle bag in October of 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

The Oklahoman reported that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation expects to spend several days looking for evidence in the case, with the help of ground-penetrating radar, a backhoe, University of Oklahoma archaeologists and medical examiner's office personnel. 

In October, the Saunders family announced it is still seeking tips about the case. OSBI announced a $10,000 reward for a video of the killing investigators believe exists.

Investigators have located surveillance video from Oct. 8, 2011, outside the Newcastle Casino. Saunders is seen getting into a red, four-door Ford pickup with a brush guard and lights on the top, Florence said.

The only description of anyone inside the pickup is a man with full tattoo sleeves on both arms, he said.

Jimmy Lee Massey and Luis Enrique Ruiz were previously arrested in connection with the case, but prosecutors dropped charges against them due to a botched initial investigation by Bethany police, prosecutors said, The Oklahoman's Matt Dinger reported.

Family and friends recently placed a large white cross as a memorial to Carina Saunders, 19, in a field on the north side of NW 23 Street west of Rockwell Avenue in Bethany. Saunders' dismembered body was found in a duffel bag in a field next to a national chain grocery store on Oct. 13. Police continue to search for her killer. This photo taken Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD
Family and friends recently placed a large white cross as a memorial to Carina Saunders, 19, in a field on the north side of NW 23 Street west of Rockwell Avenue in Bethany. Saunders' dismembered body was found in a duffel bag in a field next to a national chain grocery store on Oct. 13. Police continue to search for her killer. This photo taken Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD

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Related Photos
This undated photo provided by the Bethany, Okla. Police Department shows Carina Saunders. Investigators in a small Oklahoma City suburb have asked the FBI to help them identify possible suspects in the death of the 19-year-old woman, whose dismembered body was found in a duffel bag, the deputy chief of police said Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Bethany Police Department) ORG XMIT: OKSO101

This undated photo provided by the Bethany, Okla. Police Department shows Carina Saunders. Investigators in a small Oklahoma City suburb have asked the FBI to help them identify possible suspects in the death of the 19-year-old woman, whose dismembered body was found in a duffel bag, the deputy...

Family and friends recently placed a large white cross as a memorial to Carina Saunders, 19, in a field on the north side of NW 23 Street west of Rockwell Avenue in Bethany. Saunders' dismembered body was found in a duffel bag in a field next to a national chain grocery store on Oct. 13. Police continue to search for her killer. This photo taken Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD
Officials with the OSBI use Ground Penetrating Radar to look for possible human remains behind a house at 504 1/2 N. Oakdale in west Oklahoma City, Okla., in connection with the homicide case of Carina Saunders, Monday, April 10, 2017. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials search through dirt and debris at a home in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 10, 2017, where they are using ground-penetrating radar to look for remains in connection with the Carina Saunders murder. The body of the 19-year-old woman was found dismembered a duffle bag in October of 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
+1Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials search through dirt and debris at a home in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 10, 2017, where they are using ground-penetrating radar to look for remains in connection with the Carina Saunders murder. The body of the 19-year-old woman was found dismembered a duffle bag in October of 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-w_83b338bc3c2e943218896a2e92c1c041.jpg" alt="Photo - This undated photo provided by the Bethany, Okla. Police Department shows Carina Saunders. Investigators in a small Oklahoma City suburb have asked the FBI to help them identify possible suspects in the death of the 19-year-old woman, whose dismembered body was found in a duffel bag, the deputy chief of police said Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Bethany Police Department) ORG XMIT: OKSO101" title="This undated photo provided by the Bethany, Okla. Police Department shows Carina Saunders. Investigators in a small Oklahoma City suburb have asked the FBI to help them identify possible suspects in the death of the 19-year-old woman, whose dismembered body was found in a duffel bag, the deputy chief of police said Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Bethany Police Department) ORG XMIT: OKSO101"><figcaption>This undated photo provided by the Bethany, Okla. Police Department shows Carina Saunders. Investigators in a small Oklahoma City suburb have asked the FBI to help them identify possible suspects in the death of the 19-year-old woman, whose dismembered body was found in a duffel bag, the deputy chief of police said Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Bethany Police Department) ORG XMIT: OKSO101</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-92250670d0fef981cb111e7fcd1374a7.jpg" alt="Photo - Family and friends recently placed a large white cross as a memorial to Carina Saunders, 19, in a field on the north side of NW 23 Street west of Rockwell Avenue in Bethany. Saunders' dismembered body was found in a duffel bag in a field next to a national chain grocery store on Oct. 13. Police continue to search for her killer. This photo taken Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD" title="Family and friends recently placed a large white cross as a memorial to Carina Saunders, 19, in a field on the north side of NW 23 Street west of Rockwell Avenue in Bethany. Saunders' dismembered body was found in a duffel bag in a field next to a national chain grocery store on Oct. 13. Police continue to search for her killer. This photo taken Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD"><figcaption>Family and friends recently placed a large white cross as a memorial to Carina Saunders, 19, in a field on the north side of NW 23 Street west of Rockwell Avenue in Bethany. Saunders' dismembered body was found in a duffel bag in a field next to a national chain grocery store on Oct. 13. Police continue to search for her killer. This photo taken Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-6a3830eb7df72d73e2e57ec333850a36.jpg" alt="Photo - Officials with the OSBI use Ground Penetrating Radar to look for possible human remains behind a house at 504 1/2 N. Oakdale in west Oklahoma City, Okla., in connection with the homicide case of Carina Saunders, Monday, April 10, 2017. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman " title="Officials with the OSBI use Ground Penetrating Radar to look for possible human remains behind a house at 504 1/2 N. Oakdale in west Oklahoma City, Okla., in connection with the homicide case of Carina Saunders, Monday, April 10, 2017. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman "><figcaption>Officials with the OSBI use Ground Penetrating Radar to look for possible human remains behind a house at 504 1/2 N. Oakdale in west Oklahoma City, Okla., in connection with the homicide case of Carina Saunders, Monday, April 10, 2017. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-3bd26e0f822a69aa27b3696c2f3619a9.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials search through dirt and debris at a home in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 10, 2017, where they are using ground-penetrating radar to look for remains in connection with the Carina Saunders murder. The body of the 19-year-old woman was found dismembered a duffle bag in October of 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)" title="Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials search through dirt and debris at a home in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 10, 2017, where they are using ground-penetrating radar to look for remains in connection with the Carina Saunders murder. The body of the 19-year-old woman was found dismembered a duffle bag in October of 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)"><figcaption>Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials search through dirt and debris at a home in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 10, 2017, where they are using ground-penetrating radar to look for remains in connection with the Carina Saunders murder. The body of the 19-year-old woman was found dismembered a duffle bag in October of 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-a6d7ecd93115eee76adbd9bf5694908f.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials search through dirt and debris at a home in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 10, 2017, where they are using ground-penetrating radar to look for remains in connection with the Carina Saunders murder. The body of the 19-year-old woman was found dismembered a duffle bag in October of 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)" title="Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials search through dirt and debris at a home in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 10, 2017, where they are using ground-penetrating radar to look for remains in connection with the Carina Saunders murder. The body of the 19-year-old woman was found dismembered a duffle bag in October of 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)"><figcaption>Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials search through dirt and debris at a home in Oklahoma City, Monday, April 10, 2017, where they are using ground-penetrating radar to look for remains in connection with the Carina Saunders murder. The body of the 19-year-old woman was found dismembered a duffle bag in October of 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)</figcaption></figure>
Juliana Keeping

Juliana Keeping is on the enterprise reporting team for The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com. Keeping joined the staff of The Oklahoman in 2012. Prior to that time, she worked in the Chicago media at the SouthtownStar, winning a Peter Lisagor Award... Read more ›

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