No Bodies Found in ‘Snuff Films’ Area

After digging seven hours, police said Monday that they had not found any bodies in one area where they were told that infants and children killed in “snuff films” were buried.

Police cordoned off the former home of a fugitive couple charged with 33 counts of child molestation to search in three spots for 10 to 15 bodies, Police Sgt. Bill Watton said.

Investigators began digging at 7 a.m. Monday near the rural home, 175 miles northwest of Los Angeles, formerly occupied by Rodney Allen Phelps and his wife, Linda, both 45.

A mobile forensic laboratory was taken to the scene.

Police said two girls who reported that they had been molested told of seeing infants and children die during the making of “snuff films,” which purportedly show people being slain during sex.

The bodies were buried around the house, the girls told police.

Watton said the investigation, which will take up to 10 days, has so far yielded only some unidentified fragments.

Phelps and his wife fled last year after four co-defendants, including their daughter, Deborah McCuan, were sentenced to between 240 and 268 years in prison.

Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County and federal authorities are investigating an alleged child-molestation ring.

Authorities in neighboring Kern County also have alleged that child-molestation rings exist.