I’m sure Manassas, Va., based pumping company AITS Septic Service was not eager to get the call Tuesday to pump out a septic tank that is part of an ongoing crime investigation in Nokesville, south of Washington, D.C. According to a report in at www.potomaclocal.com, police investigating the disappearance of a young man in 2010 asked the pumping company to empty the tank at the home where the man was living when he disappeared.

The search did not turn up the man’s remains, but responding to this request had to be difficult and stressful for the AITS Septic crew. It’s outrageous to imagine that a pumping company would get a call like this one. It’s shocking to consider the possibility that a young man could have been murdered and his body dumped in a backyard septic tank 

But unfortunately, this scenario is something we’ve seen play out in recent years, in the U.S. and abroad. In a highly publicized case in southeast Ohio last year, a man and his parents were convicted of the murder of his wife, whose body was dumped in a septic tank. Similar cases have been reported elsewhere.

It’s tragic that situations like these ever occur. And while pumpers don’t want to get a call like this one, I’m sure the crew acted professionally in helping with the investigation.

You can read about the Nokesville case here and see photos of the AITS Septic truck on the scene:

http://potomaclocal.com/2013/04/16/septic-tank-drained-at-home-of-missing-shane-donahue

Do you have comments on this blog? Respond below or send me an email at editor@pumper.com.