Investigators have not recovered a weapon in the murder case of Jaclyn Wirth, but a state police dive team, searching an area of the Thames River based on a witness statement, recently recovered an ammunition clip consistent with the caliber of gun used to kill the mother of two in her Norwich home four years ago.

Prosecutor Stephen M. Carney announced the discovery of the gun magazine this morning in New London Superior Court as he turned over information to defense attorney William T. Koch Jr. during the appearance of accused murderer LaShawn "BI" Cecil.

Carney said the dive team was deployed after investigators spoke to a witness who said he acquired a gun from Cecil shortly after the homicide and subsequently threw it into the river.

Carney did not say what type of magazine was recovered or specify where it was found.

Cecil, 34, arrested in February 2015 following a lengthy investigation by city police and the New London County Cold Case Task Force, is accused of gunning down Wirth through the front door of her apartment while attempting to collect a drug debt.

Cecil has pleaded not guilty to murder, felony murder, attempted first-degree burglary and criminal possession of a firearm.

The state's attorney's office and Koch are gearing up for a trial, though Koch said Cecil has not yet received a plea offer from the state and a trial date has not been set.

The police allege Cecil went to Wirth's apartment at 6D Baltic St. on Dec. 14, 2011 to collect money owed to Harold "Hass" Butler by Ezekiel "Juney" Boyce, the brother of Wirth's boyfriend.

Wirth, 26, died of multiple gunshots wounds after her killer fired nine rounds through her apartment door. Her boyfriend, Michael Boyce, was incarcerated, and she was home alone with her two young sons at the time.

Cecil, who was being held in connection with an unrelated shooting when he was charged with Wirth's murder, has narcotics, larceny and motor vehicle convictions dating to 2006.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN