Oh I'm not denying he said it. He also said that was the way he most likely exited the building, as well. So do you take his entire statement at his word or do you disagree with part of it? As I've observed many times on this thread, I am speculating that Sgt Hurst is wrong about Brian having made it out (what else could he say, the he thinks Brian may still be in there, which would mean LE blew it), mainly because there isn't a shred of solid evidence he exited the building, and if he didn't exit, then the construction area is most likely.
However, "dug up" is rather ambiguous. Yes, that could mean huge holes everywhere or just that it didn't have a finished floor. So there are no pics. Was there any statement by ANYONE describing that area in a tangible way that mentioned trenches or huge body swallowing holes? If not, that seems pretty telling. I take Sgt. Hurst's completely dug up literally. Completely. Dug. Up. That means holes where the dirt came from, and piles. Sgt. Hurst, was it not really completely dug up?
The entire structure was already built so what would the huge trenches or holes be for? I don't know. My best guess as to why it was completely dug up at the time Brian is surmised to have entered it would be that the developer/owner - OSU - had anticipated office tenants rather than a grocery store tenant, and the grocery user (Sunflower Market) may have required upgraded/rerouted utilities perhaps including water/sewer.
If there were these huge trenches or holes and one collapsed - they'd have to dig it out again, right? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe partial. Maybe at point they were ready to back-fill.
Employees and other people in the building frequently accessed this area, correct? Both before and after Brian's disappearance, daily. As I recently noted elsewhere, Sgt. Hurst stated in 2018 that the plywood doors were chained, but that someone might be able to slip through. Doesn't sound to me like the completely dug up area and difficult area was in regular use. I don't think you can find a link for that.
Police began searching UTS and all areas around it approx noon, the following Monday after his disappearance. So, it was searched numerous times by law enforcement and his father, beginning almost immediately. That is my understanding. They'd have been in there not long after construction workers would presumably have returned first thing Monday.
So, no matter the state of the construction area, a countless number of people were all over the area in the days after Brian's disappearance. That is my understanding. Apparently they ran dogs through there more than once because they thought Brian may have been in there in that completely dug up area, which due to its having been completely dug up would have understandably have been a focal point vs. other parts of the building. And he may have been. And, in light of the fact there's not been a shred of evidence of him outside the building for 13 years, still may be, IMO. Only one person who entered the building that evening was not caught on video exiting. Coincidentally, that person disappeared the eve/morn, never seen again or any sign of life for 13 years. Also coincidentally, there happened to be in that building a construction area. Completely dug up. The lead detective thinks the missing guy could have slipped in, and may have done so. But they failed to find him there....
On top of that, are there any statements from anyone directly involved in the investigation, LE or family, that ever suggested the possibility of Brian being under concrete or that concrete had even been poured while they were in the midst of searching for him? ...or was that a theory only presented by sleuths on the internet? As I've noted previously, if the area was in fact completely dug up, then concrete had to have subsequently been poured prior to stores opening. Dirt back in, holes/trenches paved. No other way, gotta have a concrete floor. Perhaps concrete poured after they searched. Perhaps Brian was laying there under inches of dirt that may have eroded in after him in a stumble/fall. Appreciate the devil's advocacy, it has all been advocated and re-advocated previously here, but everyone can't read the entire thread, I get that. There's only one spot on the planet that could today be searched with even a tiny chance of finding Brian - the building where he was last seen. Sgt. Hurst thinks he may have entered the construction area. So do I. Sgt. Hurst thinks he made it out. 13 years radio silence suggest he did not.