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| Airstrip once belonging to Womack searchedThis article was originally published in the the Amador Ledger Dispatch on April 23, 2000, and is reproduced here with its permission. By Joanna Baker EL DORADO COUNTY—According to Bud Lewis, attorney for Larry Womack, son of gastankgate defendant Robert Womack, a strange search took place in El Dorado County a little over a week ago. The search, which was carried out by the El Dorado Sheriff's Department with the assistance of other , unnamed law enforcement agencies, was reported by the current owner of property once belonging to Robert Womack. Robert Womack had built an airstrip on the property in the 1970s. According to the current owner, the airstrip was torn up in an area about 20 by 20 feet, and the ground beneath it probed. According to Lewis, authorities said they were looking for a "truck buried with a body in it." Lewis said that his client, Larry Womack, had met an individual named Louie Silveria, who noted Womack's somewhat unusual surname and asked him if he was related to Robert Womack. When Larry Womack said he was, Silveria told him of the recent search and that it had something to do with Robert Womack. When contacted by the Amador Ledger Dispatch, Silveria said, "You know what? You are going to have to talk to them (the Lewises). I don't want to get involved in any of this! Goodbye!" He then hung up the phone. On two separate occasions, on two different days, Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe was asked if he knew anything about a search of an airstrip in El Dorado County that had once belonged to Womack. On both occasion[s] Riebe responded, "It's news to me." Lewis said he had heard two versions regarding the manner in which the search was conducted. One scenario had the authorities laying out a grid on the runway and drilling holes at regular intervals. They then set charges in the holes and performed seismic measurements to determine the nature of the material under the runway. However, the individual told Lewis he also heard that special measuring instruments were inserted into the holes to examine the underlying material. Lewis' source said the search yielded only a hunk of concrete containing rebar. Lewis reported his source as saying that the authorities "appeared really frustrated." and that he heard them say the search cost "well over $100,000." After the search was completed, Caltrans came in and repaired the runway, Lewis said. The Amador Ledger Dispatch contacted the El Dorado Sheriff's Office and was told, "We may have something for you in a week or so." Copyright © 2000 Amador Ledger Dispatch |
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