Originally Posted by
Bigguy
OK, First question.
The setup:
My next novel is a murder mystery. A body is found in rural SE Arkansas, 5 miles SE of the city of Gillett. He is just over the property line on a neighbor's farm, found face down with an arrow in his back. He's been there at least 12 hours during a heavy rain storm. His pickup is just 30 yards up the road from his body and unlocked. The closest route back to the highway runs from this road of two ruts, to a paved driveway at the victims house. Both car and house are unlocked. (Even today, in that area, folks wouldn't lock their house or car unless they would be gone overnight or longer.)
The agency that would respond, after being notified by the county Sheriff's Deputy, would be CID in the city of Warren. I have a Deputy from Warren CID process the site. He takes photos, bags potential evidence, draws maps, and takes statements from interested parties. I have him working closely with the Sheriff's Deputy as that person knows most of the town's people personally:
Question:
I'm sure the Detective will want to look through Bill's truck and house. Does he need a search warrant. To clarify, Bill lives alone. His next of kin is an estranged brother living in Florida. He uses a lawyer in silicon valley where he made his fortune. I'm sure the lawyer is the executor of the estate, but everything is left to the brother.
So, does the Detective need either a search warrant, or permission from the executor,or next of kin, to search the house and/or truck?
How would he find these people?