Bish Suspects' DNA To Be Compared To Bathing Suit

BOSTON -- Searchers will return Wednesday to the western part of Massachusetts where a swimsuit possibly worn by missing lifeguard Molly Bish was found.

Video

Officials Hope For Break In Case RESOURCES Click Here If You Have Any Information About Molly Wanted Poster The Molly Fund

NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that Investigators hope to find DNA on the swimsuit -- which was discovered in Palmer, about five miles away from the pond in Warren, Mass., where Bish was last seen in 2000.

"Hopefully, this is the break that we were looking for. I don't know if that is the case," District Attorney John Conte said. "Until that analysis is back I won't know."

Finding what may be Molly's bathing suit would be a huge break, but investigators need one more -- they need usable DNA samples from the suit.

"We have suspects in the case. We've had suspects in the case for sometime now. I certainly would like to compare the DNA of those suspects with the bathing suit," Conte said.

If it is Molly's suit, it's been in the woods for three years. If there is a killer, time could be on his side.

"Weather conditions would absolutely affect the DNA such that it would deteriorate or what we call degrade that DNA. Environmental insults, such as heat, humidity and ultra violet light all effect the integrity of a DNA specimen," Massachusetts State Police technician Joanne Sgueglia said.

Rick Beaudreau, the hunter who found the suit, waited about six months to tell an author what he saw in the woods.

"I didn't know the color (of Molly's suit). I figured it would either be an orange or red (suit). Lifeguards usually wear that color. I didn't know for sure," Beaudreau said.

"It's unusual, but we'll give everybody the benefit of the doubt at this particular time. The person who found the suit is not a suspect in any shape, way or manner," Conte said.

Conte said that DNA tests usually take about six to eight weeks. In this matter, they are trying to expedite the testing. It appears that the answers that they are looking for are about two weeks away.