Authorities are still interested in the white Chevy van with no plates and possible front end damage that Mitchell reported he was pulling over early Friday morning near Sloughhouse. Investigators say the white van which was found stranded in the Cosumnes River near the Amador El Dorado County line that same day could still be involved. "The likelihood has become slimmer, but we haven't ruled anybody out at this point," said Capt. Tim Sheehan of Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. Two people were found dead inside that van, apparently from carbon monoxide poisoning. But the theory a third person may have left the van before it was discovered hasn't been completely ruled out.

At the same time, Sheehan said the search is still on for the white van Deputy Jeff Mitchell was checking out on Meiss Road Friday morning. It's believed he came upon the van after it was already parked on the roadside. He radioed in the description of a white Chevy van with no plates. After an apparently violent struggle, Mitchell was shot to death outside his patrol car. "It could be something as insignificant as a paper delivery person out in the middle of the morning that may have saw something but thought it was insignificant because 'I saw a plate on the car and they're looking for no plate.' We're looking for any vehicle that matches the description, Chevy, Dodge, whatever," said Sheehan.

Investigators are also asking any homeowner or business with video surveillance cameras to review the tapes. "If there are suspicious vehicles, vans matching that description, plates or no plates, that's of no concern to us," said Sheehan. "There is no lead too insignificant for us right now." Also announced yesterday is that America's Most Wanted" has arrived in Sacramento to put its 10 million viewers on the case. The show has brought more than 900 fugitives to justice, an average of about one for every show that airs.