DNA testing awaited in Susan Fast case

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

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Fast has been missing for three weeks.

LAKEWOOD RANCH (BAY NEWS 9) -- Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube says detectives searched a retention pond behind a Publix grocery store at Towne Center Parkway Wednesday morning.

Stuebe said the search was related to the disappearance of 60-year-old Susan Fast, who was last seen on June 29 at her Bradenton home. Her car was found in front of a vacant home the next day.

Before dive team members entered the pond Wednesday morning, a partially submerged plastic bag was found with human remains inside.

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"I can't tell you whose body parts there are," said Steube. "Obviously, there has to be more testing done, some DNA testing."

Divers also searched four other ponds in the Lakewood Ranch area.

Steube says the past two weeks, deputies had been following GPS coordinates from Fast's vehicle. The coordinates led them to the retention pond once before, but they didn't dive in.

"We actually had folks walking around ponds looking for things that may have been thrown out," said Steube.

Fast's husband, Bruce, organized a search for Susan this past weekend, and 250 volunteers showed up.

Fast's stepson, Thomas Fast, is in jail on unrelated weapons and theft charges, but he has not been charged at this time in connection with Susan's disappearance. Deputies say he was the last person to see her before she disappeared.