I would think if they had re-enacted a crime scene, found damning evidence, were tightening up a case etc. that this would be held. I don’t know that though, I just had a sinking feeling when I read it. I hope it is off base. What are your thoughts?
LE doesn't "re-enact" crime scenes when they're executing and processing a search warrant. They have a bunch of things they look for, as specified in the signed search warrant they wrote up and got a judge to approve.
They gather items that may be pertinent to their investigation. That could include clothing, shoes, other household items, younameit. Yes, they look for forensic evidence, they take control samples as well as any items for testing, which go to their crime lab(s). They take measurements, take photographs, and often video on a walkthrough. They look for and gather together various paperwork, computers, hard drives, other digital media. They don't run lab tests at a potential crime scene, though they do have chemicals that can detect the presence of blood and do have the ability to run a simple preliminary test to determine if that blood is human or not human.
Once they've searched thoroughly, completed processing and documenting, and have seized whatever they decided to seize and are done, they release a home back to the homeowner, leave a copy of the search warrant *with a list of each item they seized*, and they file the completed search warrant back at the station. Seized items are stored in secure, locked room(s) and chain of custody of each item is maintained with stickers and forms for each item.
Executing a search warrant can take as little as a couple hours in some cases, or much longer, depending. This one is on the longer end of the spectrum.
It does *not* mean they've found nothing and given up. It's not a bad sign.
