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Search For Woman Resumes At Home Boyfriend Built

News Channel 8 photo by Eric Hausmann

In October, investigators dug up the yard of this home on Vasconia Street, looking for clues in the disappearance of Sandra Prince. They have another warrant to search the house.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 10, 2008

Updated: 01/10/2008 05:37 pm

TAMPA - Temple Terrace police have executed a second search warrant for a South Tampa home built by the boyfriend of Sandra Hamby Prince.

Prince, a social worker, was reported missing in January 2006.

Detectives are on scene looking for evidence, including Prince's body, and police expect digging will be necessary at the home at 3908 W. Vasconia St., police spokesman Mike Dunn said.

The search warrant, obtained Wednesday afternoon, covers the entire property, Dunn said. Detectives are expected to look inside and outside the house for evidence.

Police received an initial search warrant last year to search for a body at the property, and they dug in October. They took soil samples from the yard, searching the property for several days for Prince's remains or anything connected to her disappearance.

"We received the results of the previous dig," Dunn said. "We cannot release the results of that analysis. But we got those results back, and now we have probable cause to search the property again."

Information enclosed in the second search warrant wasn't available this afternoon. The search warrant was sealed at the direction of the State Attorney's Office, Dunn said.

Prince was 59 when she was reported missing from her Temple Terrace home. Blood was found in the trunk of her car and in her bedroom, leading police to think she was killed, according to the initial search warrant.

At the time of her disappearance, the Vasconia Street home was being built by Earl Pippin III, Prince's boyfriend.

Dr. Henry Lee, a forensic pathologist and chief emeritus of the Connecticut State Police, said searchers likely would hope to find bone fragments or clothing that belonged to Prince.

Any tissue, said Lee, who has no connection to the case, would have dissolved by now.

"But hair and bone, teeth and nails are what they are looking for," Lee said. "Of course, any possible weapons, too."

As to what evidence police might have needed for a second search warrant, Lee said, "If they found some clothing or shoes or small fragment of human body remains or something, that is what it would have taken to get a second search warrant."

Pippin had a five-year relationship with Prince and is the sole beneficiary of her $3.6 million estate, police said.

Pippin's attorney could not be reached immediately for comment. The attorney, Paul Sisco, previously told the Tribune there was no evidence linking Pippin to Prince's disappearance.

Signs in front of the Vasconia Street home say it is for rent or sale.

Two homeowners near the property declined to comment to the media.

A Cross Constructions Services trailer is at the property. Equipment taken from the trailer and into the house included a ladder, a hose and what appeared to be a saw blade.

From the start of the investigation, police focused on Pippin.

Pippin, a general contractor, was married when he had a relationship with Prince and built the home where a concrete slab was poured about the time of her disappearance.

Editor Howard Altman contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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