Grand Forks Police: Excavation of yard related to 26 year old missing persons case

Photo by: Justice for Kristi - Facebook
Photo by: Justice for Kristi - Facebook

(Grand Forks, ND) -- More clarity has come on exactly why Grand Forks Police, North Dakota BCI and several of law enforcement agencies were digging up land in the city earlier this week.

The department tells WDAY Radio that Investigators conducted an excavation at a residence in the 1000 block of 1st Avenue North in relation to a 1996 missing person report involving Kristi Nikle.

Investigators received information that the body of Nikle may have been buried near the foundation of the home at the property when it was constructed. After further vetting of the information, officials included the deployment of two cadaver dogs from Valley Water Rescue, with both showing positive indicators of human remains. 

After several hours of work conducted by law enforcement however, no discovery of any remains in or near the identified location was found.

Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Kristi Nikle is encouraged to contact the Grand Forks Police Department at (701) 787-8000, or by submitting a tip to the Tip411 app.