A new search of a patch of Mississippi woods believed to contain the remains of a Kinzers woman murdered in 2004 is scheduled to begin today.

Stacey Hazelton, 22, was shot and killed before two men buried her body in a secluded area near the Hushpuckena River in northwestern Mississippi, according to court testimony.

Despite several police searches, the remains were never found. Burned bone fragments were recovered, but a DNA match was impossible.

Hazelton's parents, Natalie and Bruce Hazelton of Kinzers, have pressed Mississippi authorities to conduct another search.

"We've always wanted to bring Stacey home," Natalie Hazelton said. "It's the only way we'll ever get close to closure."

Authorities waited until today to try again because the area where the remains are believed to be buried in Duncan, Miss., is choked with vegetation and infested with insects.

The Hazeltons also requested Texas EquuSearch, a Texas-based search-and-recovery team with 450 members nationwide, help the Bolivar County, Miss., Sheriff's Department with the search.

Texas EquuSearch deployed a search team Wednesday to Duncan organization spokeswoman Cheryl Lawless said.

Dave Holloway of Meridian, Miss., whose daughter, Natalie Holloway, has been missing in Aruba since 2005, also is part of the Texas EquuSearch team. The nonprofit organization has searched for Natalie in Aruba and plans to return to the island in April for another try.

"Dave Holloway understands what the Hazelton family is going through," Lawless said. "He has suffered the same type of tragedy, and to help another family really fuels his soul."

Miller, Holloway and about 10 other Texas EquuSearch members from Illinois and Atlanta brought sonar and ground-penetration devices to locate Hazelton's remains.

"We feel if the suspect is being honest about the location of Stacey, we are extremely optimistic we can find Stacey and bring her home," Lawless said. "I'm confident we will get the job done."

Dave Holloway was traveling Wednesday from Meridian to Bolivar County and unable to return a telephone message left at his insurance company.

The Hazelton family was not able to make the 17-hour drive to Bolivar County for today's search.

They established a Web site, www.staceyhazelton.org, and raised about $4,000 through yard sales, a dinner and private donations to pay for their last two trips to Mississippi, but they spent the last of the money to attend the November trial of James Arthur Fannings Jr., 24, formerly of Lancaster city.

Fannings was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence at a maximum-security prison in Mississippi.

Prosecutors said during the trial Fannings killed his 21-year-old girlfriend during an argument. Fannings and Chevon Mack, also a Lancaster native, burned the body before burying it in the woods. Mack last year took investigators to the burial spot but was unable to find the remains.

The Hazeltons wanted to watch the search this week but didn't have the money for another trip to Mississippi. Their last fund drive, launched in December, raised only $140.

Instead of being in Duncan, the couple waits at home for telephone updates.

"I'm nervous, antsy, stressed and can't sleep," Natalie Hazelton said. "It feels like the clock hands take forever to move."

Tim Miller started EquuSearch after his daughter, Laura Miller, was abducted and murdered in Texas in 1984.

E-mail Brett Lovelace at blovelace@lnpnews.com.