Search warrant issued for pickup, home of Bechtel's husband

LANDER, Wyo. (AP) - Authorities in Fremont County searching for a woman missing for almost two weeks have searched her home and her husband's pickup truck.

Dave King, lead investigator for the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, said search warrants were issued Wednesday for the home of Amy and Steve Bechtel north of Lander and for Steve Bechtel's pickup truck.

The pickup truck was impounded Wednesday morning and the search of the home began Wednesday afternoon.

King said investigators are trying to find any evidence that might indicate why Bechtel disappeared July 24 and what might have happened to her.

He added the search of the Bechtel home and Steve Bechtel's pickup truck were just part of a larger investigation.

"(The investigation) is not centered on Steve," he said.

King said investigators decided to obtain the search warrants because Steve Bechtel hired an attorney.

Amy Bechtel, 25, disappeared after leaving her Lander home to go jogging near the Loop Road in the Shoshone National Forest.

More than 100 searchers spent more than a week searching the forest for signs of the woman. After the searches revealed no clues as to the woman's whereabouts, a criminal investigation was started with the aid of the state Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

King said investigators were especially interested in biological evidence, such as hair samples, that might be found in the house and pickup truck.

"At some point, we may need to eliminate or confirm human remains somebody may discover," he said.

Interviews of Amy Bechtel's family and friends are continuing, he added.