MILTON, Pa. — Police announced this morning that investigators have found “potential evidence” in the search for Barbara Miller, a Pennsylvania woman missing for nearly 28 years.

“We have found some things that could be potential evidence, however, whether or not it is of any value to this case will remain to be seen, and can only be determined by a forensic laboratory,” said Sunbury, Pennsylvania Police Chief Tim Miller, Saturday morning.

Police and FBI have been excavating around a thick cement wall in the basement of a Pennsylvania duplex since Wednesday, hoping to find evidence in the search for Miller. The 30-year-old woman was reported missing July 5, 1989, by ex-boyfriend and former police detective, Joseph Walter “Mike” Egan, identified in the search warrant as the lead suspect in the case from the time of the disappearance to date. 

Over two days, seven cadaver dogs all indicated there were human remains on the premises when investigators have been searching.

Investigators served a search warrant on 751 N. Front St., Wednesday, the result of new leads and a review of existing case files. Though the current owner and tenants of the two-story duplex are not part of the investigation, the lead suspect’s sister, the late Cathy Reitenbach, was once a tenant at the property and lived there at the time of Miller’s disappearance.

A concrete wall believed to be at the center of the case was extracted from the basement on the third day of an on-site search.

The wall came out in three portions. Investigators were observed measuring the largest portion — 24 inches thick at its base and weighing more than 3 tons.

About 30 minutes after the wall was extracted, Chief Miller, who is not related to the victim, said investigators have found “no concrete evidence.”

“We’re taking it very cautiously, looking at every speck of dirt, anything that could be possible evidence,” Miller said in brief comments to assembled media. “Obviously, someone somewhere along the line did something and made a mistake. I’m looking for that mistake.”

“Everybody that commits a crime makes a mistake,” he said.

A mini-excavator was used to lift the wall from a hole dug outside the basement at the rear of the property. All three portions were loaded onto a rollback container. It’s expected to be hauled off-site for further inspection of the wall.

Miller was last seen by friends following a wedding June 30, 1989. Friends have said she drove to her home in Sunbury and was expected to change clothes and drive to Milton for a night out with the wedding party.

She never showed.

“We will continue on Monday to dig and remove portions of the copious amounts of concrete to look for any and all clues or potential evidence,” Chief Miller said. 

 Scarcella and Scicchitano write for the Sunbury, Pennsylvania Daily Item.