Missing evidence investigation continues

WALLACE — Detectives with the Idaho State Police continue to investigate the discovery of missing evidence at the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office.

The investigation, launched at the request of Shoshone County Sheriff Mitch Alexander, began in November of 2015 after a sheriff's office employee doing an inventory of the evidence storage room discovered evidence was missing. ISP public information officer Teresa Baker told The Press the agency is waiting for the results of forensic testing, and still considers its investigation into the missing evidence active.

On Thursday, Shoshone County Prosecutor Keisha Oxendine provided The Press with three pieces of public information relating to the missing evidence. Included in the documents is a letter, written by Oxendine, that was sent to every defense attorney in the region who had an active criminal case at the time evidence was discovered missing.

"You are hereby notified that there is an active investigation into missing items of evidence which were stored in the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office evidence facilities," the letter states. "You may request a physical inspection of physical evidence and/or items seized by law enforcement during the course of an investigation pertaining to your client(s) by making arrangements with the Shoshone County Prosecutor's Office."

The other two pieces of public information shed light on what types of evidence went missing.

In a response to a defense attorney's request to inspect evidence associated with a client's criminal case, Oxendine wrote three pieces of evidence "cannot be located." An attachment to the court document shows the evidence in question is missing prescription pills.

"To the extent that you desire to explore this issue further, this information pertains to a confidential and ongoing investigation, and you can seek an in camera review before the handling judge," Oxendine wrote.

The final document is a formal request by a defendant for the release of evidence associated with his criminal case. However, two pieces of evidence could not be located and there is a note on the document stating the sheriff's office will "cut a check" to the defendant for $509.

In a press release issued on Feb. 29, Alexander wrote that, after evidence was discovered missing, his office sealed the storage room and requested ISP investigators begin "a complete audit of all property and evidence."

"And they began interviewing the limited number of employees who had access to the storage room," Alexander wrote. "During the course of the initial investigation, one employee resigned from our office, but the investigation is not complete, so no further information can be released at this time."