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The walking cane itself has been treated with the highest level of forensic care. Transferred under a strict chain of custody, the item is currently being analyzed at a high-level laboratory for trace evidence that could reconstruct Nancy’s final known movements. Forensic analysts are looking for microscopic residues—soil samples, plant spores, or even chemical compounds—that might indicate where the cane has been in the days leading up to its discovery. Most importantly, they are looking for “recent use” indicators, such as fresh wear patterns on the rubber tip or DNA traces on the handle, which could provide a vital timeline for when the item was deposited. If the cane was left there recently, it suggests a survival scenario; if it has been there for days, the implications become significantly more dire.
