Officials conclude search for teen's body

MOORPARK, Calif. It is not the closure everyone hoped for but Sherry Barlow was grateful to spend a few moments at the site where her brothers remains may have been buried four decades ago.

"It has given me a chance to say goodbye to my brother. I have been out here since this has happened. I just wanted to say thank you," said Barlow.

Roger Dale Madison was 16-years-old when he disappeared in 1968. Authorities believe that he was stabbed to death by convicted child serial killer Mack Ray Edwards.

Edwards is believed to of murdered as many as two dozen children in the 50s and 60s.

He committed suicide in prison in 1971. Before his death he confessed to killing Roger Dale Madison and dumping his body near the 23 Freeway, which was under construction at the time.

After a lengthy investigation LAPD cold-case detectives were able to narrow the search area.

During an unprecedented five day excavation along the 23 Freeway, investigators dug done several feet in hopes of finding remains.

"We absolutely believe, and the experts believe, that he may be under the freeway," said Det. Vivian Flores, LAPD.

The convicted killer was once a neighbor and a family friend of the Madison's.

"I can't imagine how anyone could kill period -- let alone children," said Barlow.

Emotions ran high for the investigators who tried to close the case.

"It has been a long journey for three years. I worked hard. I was hoping to close it. I knew that it was a possibility that might not happen and that is okay because I tried," said Det. Flores.

The search is over and the hole will be filled in, but investigators hope the publicity generated by the excavation has yielded clues that will help in the search for other victims.

 

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