UPDATED: Detectives, Divers Searching Groton Tree Farm For Clues On 1995 Murder

A team of detectives, divers and investigators from the New London County Cold Case Task Force and the FBI arrived at Sparkle Lake Tree Farm today and are searching the property, including the lake.

The search is connected to the 1995 murder of William C. Spicer, Jr., 83, who was found stabbed at his tree farm in March, 1995, police said. 

“We’ve been back to the property to look for things, but it’s probably one of the most intense searches we’ve done since the homicide occurred,” Groton Police Chief Kelly Fogg said.

He would not say what prompted the decision or what they are looking for. But Fogg and Groton Town Police Lt. John Varone said investigators are using new technologies to assist them, such as sonar and underwater metal detectors.

In addition to the Cold Case Task Force, the FBI Evidence Response Team, the Department of Corrections Special Investigation Unit and the Connecticut State Police Dive Team arrived at the tree farm at 8 a.m.

Nancy Wallace, who was 27 when her grandfather was murdered, said she doesn’t know what they’ll find, but she hopes police are encouraged.

"Do you ever lose hope? We always have hope that they’ll find out what happened,” she said.  She added that detectives have new technologies that could uncover something new.

“The state police task force was here after he died, so I hope so,” she said. “I pray every day.”

William Spicer was retired at the time of his death, caring for his wife of more than 50 years, who had Alzheimer's, and the tree farm.  At Christmas time, he sold trees, and gave whatever he didn’t sell to families who couldn’t afford to buy a tree.

No arrests were ever made in his murder. Fogg said detectives contacted the family to ask for permission to search the property.

Detectives were searching three areas: the lake, the area where Spicer's body was found in his car, and the southern end of the property. Fogg said the biggest challenge is that the property looks different than it did 16 years ago. But he said new tools also provide an advantge.

For example, sonar may detect items in the water that divers would miss by stirring up silt and dirt at the bottom of the lake, he said. Police can also obtain DNA from smaller samples today than they could 10 years ago, and with more reliability.

“You can’t search enough,” Fogg said. “We have better technology, and that’s our whole purpose of being out there.”

Investigators are expected to stay through the day and possibly into the night and tomorrow.

“We’re staying until we’re done,” Varone said, adding, “It all depends on how quickly everyone can do their jobs.”