Lance's Break-Ins Into Raye's Home

It was May 30, 2002 at approximately 9:32pm when two officers were sitting stationary in their patrol car on S. Dawn in Meeker. Rachelle Smith and another female drove to the location of the officers. One of the officers exited the patrol car and approached Rachelle's vehicle. Rachelle informed the officer that her and Raye Dawn's house was broken into by someone, and they thought it was Lance. The officer followed Rachelle to her residence, and when they entered, they "found no sign of forced entry." Rachelle informed the police that there was an armoire full of clothes missing and a note that stated, "You want to play games? You decide!"

Raye Dawn called and spoke to one of the officers and said that she had a restraining order in place against Lance. The officer began his report when Rachelle pointed out that Lance had just driven by. According to the officer, "I could hear his radio in his truck and could tell that he had turned around and was headed back in our direction. I used my flashlight to get Mr. Briggs' attention as he approached the residence and he pulled into the driveway. I had Mr. Briggs exit his vehicle and informed him of what was going on. Mr. Briggs stated that he was at the house earlier and that he did leave the note, but he did not take any armoire. At this time, I had Officer Gulliver go back into the residence and get a description of the armoire in question. I continued to talk to Mr. Briggs outside about what was going on when Officer Gulliver came out of the house and stated that the armoire was not missing and that Smith had found it moved into another room. I then had Officer Gulliver contact Lincoln County Sheriff's Department and check to see if there was a protective order in place. Gulliver stated that Lincoln County had no copy of a protective order against Mr. Briggs. I then told Mr. Briggs that he was free to go and I had Officer Gulliver inform Smith that if there were any further problems, to contact us."

Assistant Police Chief Matt Byers came in contact with the Briggs on July 3, 2002, at 2:20am, when he drove by Raye Dawn's house and noticed an unusual number of lights on and the door on the north side of the house was open. He stated, "I could not see any vehicles in the drive. I turned around and pulled into the drive and did not observe any vehicles or persons in the drive or around the house. I knocked on the open door and waited a few moments for someone to come to the door. I then began walking around the residence to look for signs of anyone at the residence. I knocked on the front door of the home and there was no answer again. While waiting for someone to come to the front door, I was able to clearly see through a bedroom window next to the front door that the window on the north wall of the bedroom was broken. I walked to the north side of the house and observed that a plastic covering over the window had been sliced open, the screen pushed in and the glass broken. Concerned that someone inside could be hurt, I went back to the open door, announced myself as a police officer, and entered the home. (It appears that maybe the officer broke the front door.) I observed a broken mirror in the bathroom as I entered, a phone lying on the floor that was off the hook and it appeared that various cabinets in the kitchen, living room, and bedroom had been opened and dug through. I did not find anyone in the home. I shut the door of the residence and left the lights on and returned to the police department to attempt to find the occupant of the home, known to be Raye Dawn Briggs."

At approximately 2:20pm, Officer Byers met with Raye Dawn at the Kwik Stop and asked her about the possible burglary at her residence. There had been a propane leak in the home, so Raye Dawn had been staying with her parents. Raye Dawn informed Officer Byers that she felt it was Lance who had broken into her home because he had called her around 10pm on July 2, 2002, was intoxicated, and attempted to reconcile their pending divorce. Raye Dawn refused to talk to Lance about a reconciliation and hung up the phone. She believed Lance broke into her home shortly after their conversation and took the items because most of the things missing were personal such as a carousel horse, flowers, ceramic swan, blue porcelain doll and school yearbooks. Raye Dawn then presented the officer with an Application for Temporary Relief that had been issued by Judge Vassar. It was issued on June 5, 2002 and granted Raye Dawn temporary possession and control of the marital home and its furnishings. It also stated "each party is hereby mutually and bilaterally restrained and enjoined from harassing, annoying, molesting or otherwise disturbing the peace of the other."

There was a dry erase board that was found near the home with a message from Lance that said, "Babydoll, where are you? I've been calling around for you. I'm worried. Hopefully, I'll find you soon. Me."