DC reportedly wanted an investigation into who was seen in the camper van 10 days after ED disappeared. That could suggest he was not satisfied with the explanation it was a forensic officer. If such an investigation took place, DC's recent FB update with the hint of having information from LE, was perhaps sourced from receiving new evidence.
IMO, some snippets of information on MSM, with few details offered, tend to confuse rather than clarify, for example:
"...Officers ruled out the van sighting, claiming it was a plain clothed forensic officer – working late at night without protective clothing and driving an unmarked vehicle."
Search for Esther Dingley: Spanish police say it's 'impossible' and all but give up | Daily Mail Online
Fellow ED sleuths discussed this upthread, and, IIRC, one suggested the forensic officer may have been looking for evidence from that position. The photograph is blurry, but when enlarged, it appears to me the person is lying on his/her side, with the bed covers pulled up under the chin.
Others might see something different?
From the UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime:
Crime scene and physical evidence awareness for non-forensic personnel. Preservation of the scene and its evidence.
... Preservation of the scene and its evidence aims at implementing appropriate protective and anti-contamination measures to keep disturbances of the scene and the physical evidence to a minimum.Scene preservation starts as soon as possible after the incident is discovered and reported to the appropriate authorities. Concerns for scene protection end only at the point where the scene investigation process is completed and the scene is released. Delineation of the area to be protected is a complex activity and the boundaries of the scene may change as the investigation unfolds. What appears to be obvious at the outset may change and need to be re-evaluated. Once delineated, the area is clearly cordoned off using any kind of physical barrier. Any non-essential people who entered the scene before the cordon was established are removed (and this information is recorded) and any non-essential people are prevented from entering the scene during the entire scene investigation...
...From the beginning to the end of the crime scene investigation, strict anti-contamination measures are important. They include: wearing protective clothing, gloves and shoe covers; using a single path when entering the scene (this is also valid for medical personnel providing care to victims); keeping away from using any facilities available at the scene (e.g. toilet, water, towel, telephone), eating, drinking or smoking; avoiding moving anything/anybody, unless it is of absolute necessity (if something or somebody is moved, the initial location should be carefully documented….)
https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/Crime_scene_awareness__Ebook.pdf
Surely lying on a bed at a potential crime scene would be considered a similar violation to use of the toilet, towel, etc. on the above list.
From FORENSIC SCIENCE REGULATOR:
Guidance The Control and Avoidance of Contamination In Crime Scene Examination involving DNA Evidence Recovery
“...1 Personal Protective Equipment 8.1.1Personal protection equipment (PPE)serves a double purpose: a.to protect the wearer from contact with hazardous materials; and b. to protect exhibits from contamination by the wearer. For serious crimes on entering the scene PPE shall consist of the following:
Over-suit: This shall be worn at all times, including the hood, at the scene. It shall not be modified by making holes or openings in the suit that expose skin or clothing, or be otherwise handled unnecessarily at the scene.d.Overshoes: These shall be worn at all times within the scene unless otherwise directed by theCrime Scene Manager (CSM). Exposure of skin or clothing between the scene suit and overshoes should be avoided, if necessary by taping them together. Overshoes shall be removed or changed when exiting locus or entering a separate area of interest within the same scene…"
https://assets.publishing.service.g...66/206_FSR_SOC_contamination_consultation.pdf
Would a forensic officer be in the van without protective clothing? From the photograph, I can't tell what the person is wearing, so why would it be considered necessary to mention the officer was not wearing protective clothing, other than to have us believe it was, in fact a forensic officer in the van?
This incident hangs in my mind as one of the odder events reported during dear Esther's disappearance.
