The El Dorado Police Department and the Butler County Sheriff's Department began searching an abandoned oil field near El Dorado on Monday. They recieved a new lead the body of Steven Hedger, a man who has been missing for more than two decades, may be buried somewhere in this area.

Tuesday, the search continued, and Hedgers parents came into town from Washington state. They said they had a gut feeling investigators would find something during the course of this search which would finally give them closure after 22 years.

"This is it," said Jo Hedgers, They're going to find him. I know it," she said.

27-year-old Steven Hedgers, a truck driver from El Dorado, did not return home July 25, 1986 and he wasn't heard from again.

His disappearance was considered suspicious by family members because he took no personal effects, no money and left no communication. Also, both of his vehicles were left at his home.

He is believed to have been killed, but a body was never found. There were few tangible leads and the case eventually became inactive.

There have been setbacks regarding the case, including the original investigator having died in an accident while on vacation. Most who have subsequently worked the case have since left the department.

Detective Chad Young reopened the case a year and a half ago, after talking to Hedgers' mother. Since then, Young retraced the original investigator's steps and identified witnesses who have provided additional leads.

Last year, El Dorado police, Butler County Sheriff's investigators and divers from Augusta and Wichita examined a water-filled rock quarry to follow up on a lead from confidential sources.

Nothing of evidential value was recovered from that investigation.

Earlier this year, investigators from El Dorado traveled to Nebraska and Minnesota to interview persons of interest in the case.

Information and subsequent checking with defunct oil field businesses and former employees narrowed the search for the location of where Hedgers may be buried.

At least one new witness has been interviewed in relation to Hedgers' movements prior to his disappearance. Investigators from three states and the FBI have been assisting with the case.

Butler County dispatch informed KAKE that new information led Hedgers' family to go to the authorities. Information recently brought to light leads investigators to believe that Hedger may have been murdered and his body hidden in an oil field pit.

The excavation near El Dorado is in response to that lead in the case.

The oil fields being excavated were abandoned and filled-in around 20 years ago. The excavation is being assisted by El Dorado Public Works, who are operating heavy digging equipment.

"At this point, we are pursuing this lead to its logical conclusion, just as we did in the quarry dive. We have a duty to help Mrs. Hedgers and her family to at least have a definitive answer to his disappearance and to provide closure.

"If we find a body and it can be positively identified as Mr. Hedgers, we will then have a known-homicide and that will begin the clock ticking on the final phase of this investigation," said Det. Sgt. Chad Young.

Hedgers' case has been showcased on Wichita area television at least twice, in hopes potential witnesses could bring this investigation to a close.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is encouraged to call their local area Crimestoppers, the KBI Crime Tip Line, El Dorado Police or the Butler County Sheriff's Department.