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Law enforcement academy students assist in the search for a steak knife that authorities say was used to stab a woman 15 times.
By BILL VARIAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 4, 2000
CRYSTAL RIVER -- Investigators continue to search for the steak knife that Alexander Whaley allegedly used to slash a woman inside her bedroom more than a week ago.
On Monday, the Crystal River Police Department enlisted the help of a half-dozen cadets from the Withlacoochee Technical Institute law enforcement academy to comb the woods where authorities say Whaley might have run after the attack.
The police got some help picking through a heavily overgrown and somewhat soggy lot near Crystal River Middle School. The cadets got some practical investigative experience as they worked to earn a badge.
But they didn't get the knife.
"It sucked not finding it," said Rebecca Sweatt, 25, of Spring Hill, who nevertheless appreciated being able to help out in a real investigation.
The prospective crime-fighters found beer bottles and an array of discarded car parts, including a fender and a 1981 license plate. But no knife. Crystal River police Sgt. Mike Klyap joked with the cadets afterward about running a check on the tag to see if it matches an old stolen car.
"They found more junk from probably 10 years ago than anything really beneficial to our investigation," Klyap said. "But we figured it was worth a try."
With the thick plant growth and wet conditions of late, it's possible the knife could have been covered or buried, Klyap said.
Investigators say Whaley broke into the home of a 22-year-old woman sometime before 7 p.m. June 24 and hid in her bedroom. There he surprised her, demanding sex, police have said.
When she refused his demands, Whaley allegedly used a steak knife from the kitchen to stab her 15 times. The woman didn't know Whaley. Crystal River police are withholding her identity, but said she was released from Shands at the University of Florida hospital late last week after being treated for her wounds.
Officers on patrol the evening of the attack noticed Whaley, and when he ran, they chased him. They caught him near Citrus and NW Seventh avenues. They also discovered a rough path through the woods from the woman's home to the area where Whaley was arrested.
The law enforcement students concentrated in that area Monday morning, forming a line in the woods and marching forward. All but one have been in the academy for two weeks and haven't learned about so-called grid searches yet. Brett Gaylord, 20, of Homosassa was part of a different academy class that is nearly complete and had read about grid searches.
"The book doesn't teach you about the heat and bugs," he said.
The would-be officers also learned that trees, bushes and other obstacles can knock them off course.
"You've just got to communicate with the other people to make sure you're not going to miss anything," said Sarah Lisa Wright, 31, of Ocala.
Officers said that when Whaley was arrested he had blood on his skin and clothing, samples of which have been sent to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime laboratory. Investigators expect the blood on the samples to match the woman's blood.
The woman picked Whaley's photograph from a lineup shown to her at the hospital. And Whaley, 38, has a prior criminal history that includes a conviction for rape and charges of attacking other women.
So Klyap doesn't think investigators will need the knife to prove Whaley guilty of the most recent assault.
"It would just make a good piece of evidence if it goes to court," he said.