DETROIT (WWJ) -- Detroit Police Chief James White updated the community on Friday about the end of Operation Justice for Zion, the nearly five-month search for the remains of missing teenager Zion Foster.
Zion Rachelle Foster was first reported missing in early January, after last being seen getting into her cousin Jaylin Brazier's car. At the time, her family feared she had been the victim of human trafficking.
Just over a month later, Brazier confessed that while smoking marijuana together, he thought Foster had died. He admitted to putting the girl's body in the trunk of a car, and then in a dumpster.
Authorities announced Operation Justice for Zion in May and undertook the massive task of searching for Foster's remains at Pine Tree Acres, a Lennox Twp. landfill.
Operation Zion involved a 100 x 100 foot area and consisted of four phases: removing 20 feet of material, searching section of that material on a 50 x 50 foot search deck, dismantaling the operation and concluding the search.
Crews searched through 3,500 truck loads of waste, totaling 15 million pounds. More than $453,000 was donated from the community and business partners to help fund the operation.
The search effort officially began May 31, and ended on October 10, without success.
According to Commander Michael McGinnis, who also spoke at a Friday press conference, there is still overwhelming evidence that Foster's body is in the landfill.
"Because we were unsuccessful in this recovery, does not take away from the evidence that supports that she is there," McGinnis said. "The operations at a landfill are such that, we knew going into this that it was going to be very challenging. So we did what we could with the resources that we have."
“Ending the search without recovering Zion’s remains is very difficult for all of
us,” said Chief White at a press conference. “I can only imagine the pain Zion’s family is going through, and we all certainly share in that pain.
"I want to thank all those who contributed to this operation," White continued. "We could not have done this without the generous support of our partners, community and department members who volunteered as searchers.”
White also thanked the community members and departments who volunteered as searchers and reiterated that the investigation is ongoing.
DPD investigators have submitted a warrant package for the murder of Zion Foster to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. Officials are also continuing to follow up on tips from the community.
Related
Related
