WARREN, Mass. -- The discovery of a swimsuit jump-started the investigation into missing Warren lifeguard Molly Bish.

Video

Police Dogs Search Area

NewsCenter 5's David Boeri reported that investigators were back in the woods in Palmer, Mass., and Warren Wednesday, searching a two-and-a-half mile area around where the swimsuit was found. Bish may have been wearing the suit when she vanished three years ago.

State police teams followed one dog into the woods near a sportsmen club. A second team followed another dog. In all, three dogs took the lead in the wooded hills.

"We put (the dogs) into an area and we look for a change in behavior. If we see that change in behavior, then we turn over that investigation to the detective branch," Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Bruce Hirons said.

So far, it has not been the dogs, but a bow hunter following game that found the first possible piece of evidence of Bish's whereabouts in nearly three years. He discovered a dark blue Nike swimsuit that looks like the same one she wore to Commins Pond as a lifeguard the morning she disappeared.

"The search will not end until we have completely covered that area," Massachusetts State Police Lt. Marian McGovern said.

Officials said that they'd go wherever the evidence leads them. Officials have investigated reported sightings of the teen since she disappeared.

"The key here is the forensic testing of that bathing suit. We are trying to move that up so that we can possibly know if that is the bathing suit that Molly had on that day," District Attorney John Conte said.

State police will prepare perimeter maps on Thursday so that a full search of the area can begin Friday.