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Dog handler Chuck Wooters with his two German shepherds, Falco and Quake, searched for Phylicia Thomas on a parcel of land in Hunlock Creek on Saturday.

Chuck Wooters activates a GPS unit as his dog Falco is ready to get to work during Saturday’s search for Phylicia Thomas in Hunlock Creek.

Pauline Bailey looks on as the search for her daughter, Phylicia Thomas, goes on in Hunlock Creek on Saturday. In foreground is Chuck Wooters who used his two cadaver dogs in the search.

Cadaver dog Quake, a German Shepherd, wades through a creek during the search for Phylicia Thomas in Hunlock Creek on Saturday.

Cadaver dog Quake, a German Shepherd, on the move during Saturday’s search for Phylicia Thomas in Hunlock Creek.

Chuck Wooters and his dog, Quake, search a storage shed during Saturday’s search for Phylicia Thomas in Hunlock Creek.

Chuck Wooters and his dog, Quake, search a parcel of land during Saturday’s search for Phylicia Thomas in Hunlock Creek.

HUNLOCK CREEK — Despite high hopes and the use of well-trained cadaver dogs, a search Saturday morning for the body of Phylicia Thomas, missing since February 2003, was fruitless.

Family members and friends gathered at a site along Golf Course Road, Hunlock Creek, where they believed her body may have been buried. The property was formerly the home of Steve Martin, initially named a possible suspect in the case by state police.

Thomas is believed to be last seen at a party nearby in Martin’s company. She was 22 years old.

Martin hung himself in 2005, while in prison on an unrelated charge.

Troopers also had linked Martin to the 2001 disappearance of Thomas’s friend Jennifer Barziloski, 18, also of Lake Township, whose skull was found near Martin’s home in 2010.

Martin never faced charges in either case.

Search-and-rescue dogs Quake and Falco, both German shepherds, along with handler Chuck Wooters searched a one-acre parcel of land, paying special attention to areas near the basement, a creek, the foundation of the house and a shed.

Pauline Bailey of Nanticoke, Thomas’ mother, credited volunteer organizer and friend Judy Fisher with making the canine search possible.

“I think my email about the situation really touched Chuck’s heart, and I received an email on Jan. 1 that he would do the search,” she Fisher. “But he said we needed to wait until at least April after the cold weather, so the dogs could definitely get the scent.”

Searchers also had to confirm that the search would be legal and admissible in court.

“First we needed to confirm there wasn’t presently an active investigation,” said Fisher. “Then we needed to get the owner’s permission.”

Wooters, a volunteer member of Search and Rescue of Pennsylvania, said he couldn’t have refused to help.

“We have these dogs available to help families, to give them closure,” he said. “That’s why it’s important.”

Bailey said the family “was heartbroken,” having anticipated the search would provide new information and bring them closer to finding Thomas, but they remained determined.

Bailey certainly isn’t deterred. She said she has received multiple tips by telephone and will be bringing those to the attention of the state police on Monday.

“Hopefully, at this point, the state police will be willing to move forward,” she said. “I’m hoping for a warrant to search two others properties.”

She also hopes the FBI will become involved in the investigation.

Fisher believes members of the community know something, but are simply afraid to come forward.