(WBIR) Search warrants give a better picture of the investigation into a missing woman, and what police have uncovered so far.
Nichole Burgess disappeared in mid-May. She lived in Nashville, but grew up in Cumberland County, and the investigation took authorities to an Anderson County home last week.
In late May, a friend of Burgess filed a missing persons report after she did not return any calls or texts. The last words she heard from her friend was that Burgess was with the father of her child, Caleb Cannon, who lives in Andersonville.
The search warrants say her friend believed Burgess and Cannon got in a fight.
Within a couple days, Burgess' friend and police searched her Nashville home and found her dogs roaming freely, without food, as if they'd been left alone for days
While authorities were looking around her home - the search warrants say Cannon was taking care of his and Burgess' son, Tiernan Cannon.
Court authorities questioned one of the child's friends. According to the documents, the 10-year-old Tiernan told his friend, he might not be seeing his mom anymore because she is probably dead. Tiernan said he was pretty sure that his dad had killed his mom.
During a second search of Burgess' home, cadaver dogs picked up the scent of a decomposing body.
Investigators soon began looking at Caleb Cannon as a person of interest. Search warrants show the Anderson County Sheriff's Office towed Cannon's car from his Andersonville home on June 1st. Two cadaver dogs sniffed human remains in the trunk of that car.
Police say they believe Cannon killed Burgess and drove her body from her Davidson County home to an unknown location.
Based on the evidence, police obtained search warrants to check out his house, looking for any evidence that could tie Cannon to Burgess' disappearance. Inside, they found a revolver, bullets, a knife, and dozens of other items. They also looked for a DNA sample.
Last Thursday police said they do believe Burgess is dead, but they are still holding out hope they'll find her alive.
