I always doubted they were looking for a body with that dig on the ranchette. I just don't think using a back hoe is the way they look for a body. It must have been something else. Ashes, acid? Does the house have a grey water line? Not legal in most parts but people still have them to avoid having septic pumped out too often. JMT. That huge hole in the ground baffles me as to what they hoped to find.
I’m puzzled by this as well, you would think if there were trying to unearth evidence they would’ve taken great care in excavating the area and that’s a mighty large hole!