Nye County sheriff's deputies believe they're taking an important new step in finding out what happened to a local woman who went missing 3 years ago.

Investigators were given new information recently in the disappearance of Maureen Fields.

That, coupled with a court decision ruling her legally deceased recently, prompted deputies to ask an internationally renowned search group for help.

They agreed, and today, they arrived in Nye County from Texas.

The hi-tech surveillance equipment built into an unmanned drone could help find the proverbial "needle in a haystack" in the homicide case.

"We've actually been called all over the country, and in fact all over the world," says Tim Miller, who founded the organization, Texas EquuSearch. 

EquuSearch has helped look for people in cases as big as the Natalie Holloway disappearance.

Thursday, searchers looked for clues in the case of Maureen Fields.

"There are certain cases that stick with you that you can't let go because obviously we have a missing woman, and recently she was legally declared dead," says Detective Joe Close, who has been working the case since it broke.

Investigators found Maureen's car abandoned in a stretch of desert in California, near Pahrump.

Afterwards, they questioned her husband, who is a person of interest, and refused to participate in the search.

However, investigators also had found DNA from another man in the car.

The search could bring the answers they're looking for. 

"Is there a chance that we're going to find her, a small chance, but we know there's no chance if the search doesn't continue," says Tim.

Even if it takes another three years until deputies can close the case.

There are only theories as to why Fields disappeared, and what happened after.

The sheriff's office tells Action News that investigators have long thought Fields' husband should be charged, although the district attorney says there hasn't been sufficient evidence.