Each day, officers worked their way through refuse in sections of about 100 tons. Between 300 and 400 tons were cleared each day, Salt Lake police detective Phil Eslinger said.

Rhodes coordinated the logistics for the search, ensuring officers had food, water, equipment and anything else they needed. Friday morning, some officers cried when it became clear that human remains had been found, he said.

"I don't think people realize the emotional toll this takes," Rhodes said.

Salt Lake police officer John Lundgren was one of the volunteers sorting through the trash pile Friday morning and was about 50 yards away from the officer who discovered Lori's remains.

During the three-week search, volunteers would occasionally call in a casual manner to others to, "Hey, come take a look at this," Lundgren said. But Friday morning, he said he knew immediately from the screams and excitement in everyone's voices that this wasn't a routine find.

"This morning was certainly different. We knew we had something," he said. "It's pretty unmistakable, human remains."

Lundgren said it was a difficult search. Despite the heat, the smell and other hazards of sorting through the trash, he said volunteers showed up day after day to help bring closure to the family.

Sgt. J.R. Nelson made the grisly discovery. He told one Salt Lake television station that he broke down when he realized what he had found.

"It was very tough, a very tough time," said Nelson, who works for the Salt Lake City Police Department.

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E-mail: jdobner@desnews.com; preavy@desnews.com