Landfill search for Christine Mustafa’s remains costs nearly $1.5M

A nearly three-month search through a landfill for the remains of a missing Phoenix woman cost nearly $1.5 million, Phoenix police said Thursday.

Between Oct. 23 and Jan. 18, a total of 278 volunteers searched through 21,500 tons of debris at the State Route 85 Landfill in Buckeye in hopes of finding the remains of Christine Mustafa, whom police believe was murdered last year.

However, Phoenix police have not recovered her body. Her live-in boyfriend has been charged in her killing.

MORE:Phoenix police expect murder conviction without Christine Mustafa's remains

The landfill search cost the city of Phoenix more than $1.3 million. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office contributed more than $133,000 toward the total cost, police said.

Police suspended the search without finding the woman's remains.

A breakdown by the Phoenix Police Department shows most of the money, about $1.2 million, went to construction equipment and related costs needed for the search.

Money also covered other equipment and supplies, including protective clothing, boots, tarps, and food and drink for volunteers.

Mustafa was reported missing last year on May 11 after she failed to show up for her shift at a Walgreens pharmacy.

A few days after she was reported missing, the case became a homicide investigation, which eventually led to the arrest of Robert John interval Jr., her live-in boyfriend, in connection with her murder.

The search included both a hand search of the landfill and use of cadaver dogs, police said.

A total of 23,650 man-hours were spent during the entire search operation.

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