Van sealed, towed away with woman inside
Police: Officers never had warrant to search van
A woman’s body was inside a van for five days. That same vehicle was sealed up by police and towed away.
Moriarty Police Chief Bobby Garcia said he was sorry for Tammie Cessna’s family. But he doesn’t feel his officers did anything wrong by taping up the van with the body still inside.
“I was shocked,” he said.
VIDEO: Van sealed, towed away with woman inside
Cessna’s missing person case started on a Tuesday. Garcia said her van was found at a Moriarty motel.
“During the initial call from the officers, they did look inside the windows in the van. Obviously her body was not immediately seen,” he said.
He said the district attorney advised officers to seal the van up and have it towed in case another police agency took over the case.
“We did so,” he said. “We had the van towed for safety and for evidence preservation.”
According to sources close to the investigation, Cessna's van was sealed and towed to a secure building at the tow yard and locked inside.
“That's where the lull came, and that's why she was in the van for so long because the van was moved to the impound lot, for preservation of evidence,” Garcia said.
The officers never had a search warrant, which is why the van was never opened, he said.
Friday the investigation changed, and the State Police Investigations Bureau was called by Moriarty police. Saturday state police executed a search warrant, finding Cessna’s body inside the van.
“Events like this produce policy changes. Am I sitting her saying we did anything wrong?” said Garcia. “Absolutely not. Procedure-wise, we did what should have been done.”
Cessna’s case is being investigated as a homicide. Mark Chavez, 41, has been charged with her slaying. Police said he and Cessna had some type of relationship before her death.