The search in Macomb County for up to six girls missing for decades ended Friday because of rain but will resume Monday, Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer said.
"It's raining and it's getting muddy back there and we're not gonna be able to make those vehicles get out of there if we stay later," he said.
Dwyer said no remains have been found at the Macomb Township site, but authorities are committed to the search for a period of time next week.
He said authorities also are looking at "other things" that he said he might be willing to share next week.
"This is a real difficult recovery. The length of time we're talking. How things have changed. We're taking trees down that have been up for 10 years and weren't there 20 years ago. That whole scene (landscape) has changed somewhat."
The search and digging near 23 Mile and North Avenue is a site that Dwyer believes is a "grave site" for up to six missing girls from decades ago. The effort began Monday.
Dwyer previously said something was found at the site that makes authorities cautiously optimistic they are in the right spot. He has declined to identify what was found.
Several months ago, Warren Police opened up a cold case involving Kimberly King, 12, who went missing from Warren in 1979.
They believe she is buried at the site, which is near where the body of Cindy Zarzycki, 13, of Eastpointe was found a decade ago, buried about 18 inches deep. She went missing in 1986. She was dating Arthur Ream's son, Scott.
Arthur Ream was convicted of first-degree murder in Cindy's death and directed authorities to where her body was buried before he was sentenced to life in prison in 2008.
Dwyer previously said authorities were redirected to the area after it was reported that Ream was bragging in prison about killing four to six victims.
Dwyer said Ream, 69, is suspected in the other missing girl cases, was interviewed and failed a polygraph. Fellow prisoners also were interviewed.
"He knows exactly what he's doing and he won't give the families closure," Dwyer said Friday of Ream. "It's kind of disappointing that he wouldn't give these families closure. That's all we want. That's why we're out there. An opportunity for their loved ones to put them to rest."
He has said Ream is no longer cooperating with authorities.
Dwyer said people are grateful authorities are making the effort, saying authorities would be "neglecting our duty if we didn't do what we we're doing today."
Staff writer Aleanna Siacon contributed to this report.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the WZZM 13 app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.
