LATEST UPDATE: A police dog involved in the search for Lia Smith has just made a major discovery — a black backpack found roughly 400 meters from the main scene, and what was inside immediately forced officers to call in senior investigators.
According to police sources, the K9 unit suddenly stopped near a cluster of bushes at the edge of the wooded area, barking and digging until officers uncovered a mud-covered backpack. The bag, identified as matching the one Lia was last seen carrying, was carefully sealed and opened under controlled conditions.
Inside, officers reportedly found items that “did not belong to Lia”, including one object described as “deeply disturbing and impossible to ignore.” Forensic teams were immediately called to the scene, and the area has since been closed off for detailed evidence collection.
Authorities have not released the full list of what was found, but investigators confirmed the discovery has shifted the investigation’s focus once again — raising new questions about who might have been with Lia in the final hours before she vanished.