Investigation turns up no body

A tip about a potential dead body somewhere in the 200 block of Northwest 3rd Street had Lawton police detectives and Oklahoma Medical Examiner Ron Jackson searching Wednesday afternoon.

On a call to the area around 12:30 p.m. investigators searched several areas where disturbed leaves and soil were checked. Crime Scene Investigator Detective Jeremy Walters only said there were potential dig sites between the corner house and the nearby alley.

A manhole in the gravel and tall grass covered alley would soon gain their attention. The cover would prove difficult to lift to look inside until Jackson retrieved a pry bar from his truck. Once opened, light shined through the opening revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Walters took photos inside as well as at other potential locations.

Lt. Charles Whittington, Lawton Police Department information officer, said the report called into investigators but he’s unsure the veracity of the tip.

By 1:30 p.m., detectives said it seems it was a standstill situation.

An hour later, a marked police unit with a uniformed officer remained at the location but no crime scene tape was posted nor were there signs of an active investigative investigation underway.

By 5 p.m., four marked police units were at the scene. Whittington said they were holding the area until they could get back out to investigate further.