Tulsa World: Teenager didn't disturb remains after discovery

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Teenager didn't disturb remains after discovery

VICTIM

Cori Baker: The 13-year-old had been missing since Nov. 9.

By DAVID SCHULTE World Staff Writer
Published: 3/28/2008 12:50 AM
Last Modified: 3/28/2008 7:40 AM

Zach Searle has watched enough police dramas on television to know when he has walked upon a possible crime scene.

The 15-year-old has seen how his favorite TV detectives preserve evidence so they don't ruin cases.

That's why he didn't call attention to a skull he found while refereeing a paintball game on March 21.

Instead, Searle kept his discovery to himself until the game was completed. He then told his supervisors at Paintball Adventure Games Inc., who called the Creek County Sheriff's Office.

Additional bones were discovered that evening and this week at the paintball facility, which is north of the Creek Turnpike near 49th West Avenue. The Medical Examiner's Office determined they are the remains of Cori Baker, a 13-year-old Tulsa girl who had been missing since Nov. 9.

Searle, a Jenks High School stu dent, made the discovery when he noticed a strange object in the wooded terrain near the playing field as he refereed a game.

"I saw a white thing out of the corner of my eye, and it's unusual to see that on a field," he said. "It was almost the size of a softball."

When he took a few steps toward the object to get a closer look, Searle had no doubt as to what it was, he said.

"I realized it was a human skull," he said. "It was real -- not fake or a toy."

Many people his age might have been tempted to tell others or pick up the skull, but not Searle.

"I watch 'CSI' and 'Crime Scene' -- stuff like that on TV," he said. "I know not to touch something."

Sheriff's Capt. Mike O'Keefe said Searle acted wisely and safely because human remains can contain hazardous materials while the body is decomposing. Law enforcement officers always use gloves and other protective equipment to handle human remains, he said.

By leaving the skull alone, Searle preserved a valuable piece of evidence that prose cutors may use to pursue a first-degree murder charge against Marquis Bullock, who is accused of killing Cori. Police and volunteers had spent the past four months looking for her body.

"It was important to the case that she be found, and there is always a grieving family who wants to find her or her remains," O'Keefe said.

"He (Searle) did a good job by being alert and by reporting it immediately."

When he found the skull, Searle, who had seen media coverage of Cori's disappearance, thought it might be hers.

Since then, he has wondered why he -- and not someone else -- found the skull.

"It's overwhelming," he said.

His father, Mark Searle of Tulsa, is proud that his son not only was observant enough to find the skull, but behaved in a mature and responsible manner in contacting the authorities.

"He's handled the situation with dignity," he said.

David Schulte 581-8367
david.schulte@tulsaworld.com

By DAVID SCHULTE World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment LP, (3/28/2008 7:24:41 AM) You deserve a pat on the back, Zach Searle. Thank you for finding this girl and for acting maturely and appropriately when you did.
	Report Comment J. W. Booth, South Tulsa (3/28/2008 8:04:03 AM) Good job young man. You did the right thing. Some people might have plastered the evidence with paint balls.
	Report Comment Angela, Tulsa (3/28/2008 9:16:59 AM) Wasn't there a reward offered for finding her?
	Report Comment Little Momma, (3/28/2008 10:33:55 AM) Yeah it was $5000.
	Report Comment HP, Tulsa (3/28/2008 11:44:30 AM) To they yourn man who acted in a correct manner, thank you, also to his parents, thank you for instilling in this young man som values and tranning. What a wonderful act of responsibility.
	Report Comment shelia, checotah (3/28/2008 11:59:42 AM) Zach you did a very good thing. Now they cam put their baby to rest and have closeur. See there still are good people in this world.
	Report Comment Kudos, (3/28/2008 12:39:14 PM) GREAT Job Zach!!!... Does this mean he gets the $5000 reward money to put towards college... Maybe he'll get his forensic's degree!!..
	Report Comment My Opinion, Tulsa (3/28/2008 12:51:56 PM) Good job Zach! I can't help but think it was help from up above for her to be found just in time. We all know that Marquis' trial has been put off until 3/31. Now that their is a body, the state has a much bigger case. Who knows what would have happened if she hadn't been found, he might have been released!
	Report Comment Vivian, Tulsa (3/28/2008 12:53:09 PM) 3. 3/28/2008 9:16:59 AM, Angela, Tulsa Wasn't there a reward offered for finding her? _______________________________ To Angela: Back on Dec 21, 2007 there was an article about a $5000 reward from the Baker family in the TW. On the message board for that article, a woman named "LRF" who said she knew the Baker family very well and she offered an additional $5000. She posted....."they will KNOW who I am and they will KNOW that I will fall thru with the 5000.00 I am donating when information is given in finding Cori (dead or alive), once she is found." Is the offer still good, LRF??? The young man deserves the reward.
	Report Comment Jasper, Tulsa (3/28/2008 2:08:46 PM) Where is the psychic? Did he run back to Texass?
	Report Comment Comfortably Numb, Mars (3/28/2008 2:18:21 PM) Congrats Zack. I commend your parents for raising you properly and not allowing you to watch American Idol.
	Report Comment Comment, Tulsa (3/28/2008 3:01:29 PM) Great job Zack... And for acting so maturely.Outstanding behavior for a 15 yr old. Your parents should be very proud...
	Report Comment Kelly, Tulsa (3/28/2008 3:05:03 PM) I remember when the lady (LRF)offered the $5000. Some of the family members even made comments about it and they weren't happy with some of her comments about her knowing so much about the family. They asked her to comment to the dad directly about her $5000 reward. Anyway, Cori's story touched us all and it is unfortunate that it took such a long time to find her body. Thank you Zack for your clear thinking when you found her.
	Report Comment Mike, Stillwater (3/28/2008 3:10:09 PM) GREAT JOB ZACK!!! NOW IF THE LAW WAS AS MATURE AND GET RID OF THIS GUY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I SUPPOSE THOUGH HE WILL BE ABLE TO SET IN PRISON LIKE ROGER DALE STAFFORD LONGER THAN SOME OF HIS VICTUMS GOT TO LIVE ON THIS EARTH!!!! I WORKED WITH HIM AND THOUGHT IT IS QUITE A THING TO LET SOMEONE LIKE THAT FATTEN UP ON DEATH ROW!!! SOMETHING JUST STRANGE ABOUT THAT!!!
	Report Comment wondering, tulsa (3/28/2008 6:48:51 PM) so who's is this women with the reward?? She needs to come forward for this young man,
	Report Comment Zachary Searle, Tulsa (3/28/2008 8:51:11 PM) First off, i would like to thank everyone for their comments about my actions. After the findings, i tried to take the most responsible actions that i could. Im glad the friends and family of the Baker family can have closure in the loss of their child. I send my deepest sorrow and concern to the family. As a believer in Christ, i know that Corie is in the hand of the lord, and i know that she is in a better place. -Zachary Searle-
	Report Comment lmn, op (3/28/2008 8:56:59 PM) Zachary, You bring honor to yourself and your family for your thoughtful actions and words. God Bless you and your family.
	Report Comment Kelly, Tulsa (3/28/2008 10:38:30 PM) 15. 3/28/2008 6:48:51 PM, wondering, tulsa "so who's is this women with the reward?? She needs to come forward for this young man," ___ To Wondering, she just used the initials LRF. Go to the very top of this page and enter Cori Baker as the keywords and under "search within", click on news. On the 2nd page of the results, Dec. 21, 2007, the headline was "$5000 reward set for missing girl". Click on that story and you will see 2 posts by LRF where she offered the $5000. The Baker family had already raised $5000. Maybe some of Cori's family knows if she was serious with the offer. I hope so.
	Report Comment slinger, tulsa (3/29/2008 12:25:32 AM) Since the kid who discovered it knew at once that it was a human skull.......why did it take the state medical examiner two days to determine that fact? Perhaps the young man should have that ding dong's job instead.
	Report Comment Nickel & Dime, Tulsa (3/29/2008 12:31:34 AM) Thank You,Zack,way to git-er-dun.
	Report Comment Brian, Tulsa (3/29/2008 1:03:02 AM) Well done!
	Report Comment MW, Tulsa (3/29/2008 6:23:42 AM) Thank you, Zach. The Baker family can finally be at peace knowing that their little girl has been found. You've helped the authorities preserve a critical piece of evidence that will help their case. You should be commended for the way you handled the situation. The entire community is proud of you.
	Report Comment HUH?, (3/29/2008 12:19:01 PM) And this has to do with Cori's remains how???
	Report Comment MRC, Tulsa (3/29/2008 6:04:28 PM) So, a little girl can finally be laid to rest, the man properly charged with her murder, a young man is a hero in her family's eyes, and all you people can think of is a reward? Where's this $5,000? You people are amazing.....
	Report Comment Sick of Stupid behavior, Edmond (3/29/2008 8:27:28 PM) Good lord you poor money hungry grub worms!! A poor child has been murdered and her remains found and all some of you can talk about is the reward!!!! How stupid you are! This childs remains can now be buried and her family can have closure!! I am sure this 15 year old boy who was wise enough to handle things the way he did is more concerned with doing the right thing! Its a good thing he found her remains and not some of you grub worms, you guys would have held her remains for the REWARD!! And as for the PETA person posting about a dog, get a life!

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