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Gene Kennedy and Jed Boal ReportingInvestigators in Bountiful have a busy weekend ahead of them. They're trying to get more evidence against the convicted sex offender accused of desecrating the body of Samantha Mikesell in Mueller Park Canyon.
Walter White was booked into jail in relation to the death of 16-year-old Samantha Mikesell.
If the county attorney doesn't have more evidence, it's possible White could leave jail as early as next Monday. White is in jail now, accused of two felonies.
But the county attorney has not filed official charges against him. In a meeting this afternoon, he asked Bountiful detectives to interview new witnesses and re-interview old ones.
Critical evidence they're waiting on will come from the medical examiner. An autopsy and toxicology report will tell them if drugs were in the body of Samantha Mikesell. They will get more evidence next week, other answers will take time.
But if there isn't enough evidence against Walter White, he could walk.
Exactly what compelled Walter White and Samantha Mikesell to head up Mueller Canyon may never become clear, but detectives think they'll have a better idea in the coming days.
White told police they went up the canyon to drink and do drugs; both had a history of suicide attempts. Both took prescription drugs. White woke up, Mikesell did not.
Police recovered her body yesterday and say there were no outward signs of the cause of death.
Lt. Randy Pickett, Bountiful Police Department: "Most of his story about going up there with the pills and alcohol have checked out."
His booking photo shows the scratches White said he got in the oak brush coming down the canyon. He's charged with obstruction of justice, providing a controlled substance and alcohol to a minor and desecration of a dead body.
Detectives will interview around 30 family members and friends who have come forward.
Lt. Randy Pickett, Bountiful Police Department: "There are a bunch of people with information that have called us. There may be a homicide charge later, but right now, we don't have that."
Detectives are talking with White at the Davis County Jail. They say he's been very cooperative from the beginning of the investigation. They simply don't know if there's that much more information he can give them.
Lt. Randy Pickett, Bountiful Police Department: "For instance, he was saying he was being chased by bears, and there are no bears up there, so he's still confused."
Police took White's computer and will get a warrant to search its contents. Investigators from the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will assist. E-mails between White and Mikesell could tell them more about the relationship between the pair; other computer activity may provide more clues.
Police expect it will take one to eight weeks before they have the results they need from the medical examiner.
Geneva Showalter / Victim's Neighbor: "I would imagine if they can't keep him in jail, there will be some type of surveillance because they can't just let him run loose."
Rod Showalter / Victim's Neighbor: "My feelings are that they're not going to let him out, but I don't know."
Rod and Geneva Showalter wish they did know. They live next door to Samantha Mikesell's family. They talked with them just yesterday.
The Showalter's are watching a family suffer. And while they offer a listening ear, Davis County attorney Mel Wilson is trying to build a case when a lot of questions still remain unanswered.
Crucial to the case is that search warrant. Detectives need it to inspect Walter White's computer.
They want to know what kind of conversations he had with Samantha Mikesell before her death.
Mel Wilson / Davis County Attorney: "I think they were close friends."
But did Walter White take it too far? Did he drug and sexually assault the 16 year-old girl? Police say there's no obvious signs of that, so investigators have to rely on autopsy and toxicology reports. Those can take a week or two to return, but investigators hope to expedite the reports.
It's only making the case against White tougher.
This weekend, police plan on intervewing Samantha Mikesell's acquaintences and friends from school, hoping to get a clearer picture of this 16-year-old girl's relationship with a 38-year-old convicted sex offender.
Meantime, an unusual twist in the story. Police arrested Walter White's landlord today. She is Deborah Jule, a woman who previously talked with KSL.
She's charged with breaking into White's apartment and stealing some of his belongings, and obstruction of justice.
Officer Ekolu Delos Santos / Woods Cross Police: "She was observed entering his home, taking items."
Reporter: "More than one?"
Officer Santos: "Yes."
Police aren't saying what those items are but investigators say she raided the apartment yesterday after detectives already sealed it off, after police took White into custody.
