Police Dig in Former Home of Murder Suspect, No Evidence Found

Yesterday, Bellingham Police Department detectives finished their investigation of the basement of Bellingham resident Ed Bjerke's home, the former home of Bruce Hummel, who last year was charged with murdering his wife in 1990. The Whatcom County Prosecutor Dave McEachran said a new lead had developed in the case, and that the investigation was being done as part of a plan to pursue that lead.

The detectives were searching for the remains of Hummel's wife, Alice Hummel, but found no evidence, at present, that her body was buried there, according to Bjerke. McEachran has officially declined to comment on whether or not any evidence has been discovered at the house.

The house has been investigated before. In 2003, FBI investigators went through the house and searched the yard, with radar systems, dogs, and other techniques and equipment. No evidence of Alice's remains was found during that investigation either. Charging documents from the Whatcom County Superior Court at that time noted that nothing unusual was found during those particular searches of the premises. People close to the case don't seem to think that it's likely that the body will ever be found in that location. Neighbor Joanne King said, "I don't think someone would bury the remains that close to the house."

According to current information, Bruce Hummel will stand trial for his wife's murder on June 1st, 2009, exactly one month from the date of the investigation. Current court documents mention no physical evidence linking Hummel to his wife's murder, and police have declined to give any further information about the case at the present time. Seargeant Tim Lintz was on the premises for the duration of the investigation, but declined to give any comment to the reporters on the scene, deferring questions to Dave McEachran. McEachran could not be reached at the time.

Bjerke said that he hoped the trial would close the case and finally provide some answers for the Hummels' children about what happened to their mother.

Background of the Case:

Alice Hummel suddenly went missing in October 1990. The explanation that Bruce Hummel gave their children for her disappearance was that she had run away. According to police, just before Alice went missing, one of the couple's children had told her that Bruce was molesting them. He told the police that his wife had committed suicide, and that he'd dumped her body in Bellingham Bay to "spare the kids the pain". The police said that this was unlikely.

Sources:

Jensen, P (2009, May 2). Resident: No new evidence found at former home of Bellingham murder suspect. The Seattle Times

Piercy, R (2009, May 1). Bellingham man to go on trial for wife's murder. Retrieved May 3, 2009, from King 5 News Web site: http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_050109WAB-bellingham-death-KS.d865c4d.html