INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An investigation continues into the discovery of skeletal remains found Friday in a wooded area near 49th Street, authorities said. The body could possibly belong to a Vero Beach man – in his 30s – reported missing last year, Indian River County sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Joe Abollo said.
An I.D. badge with the man’s name was found with the body, according to a sheriff’s report.
“The remains most likely will be him,” said Abollo, who also noted that authorities have not identified the body.
The remains were sent to the medical examiner’s office in Fort Pierce. It could take weeks before the body is identified through a forensic examination, Abollo said.
An environmental scientist was surveying land for gopher tortoises about 1:30 p.m. Friday on the northeast corner of 49th Street and 43rd Avenue, a sheriff’s report showed. The scientist discovered what appeared to be human bones along with the I.D. badge about 200 yards into the wooded area, deputies said.
Deputies marked off the area with crime scene tape, reports show. Crime scene detectives searched the land for any other evidence.
The remains were unrelated to a Dec. 14 incident where several sheriff’s K-9 dogs discovered a human skull and bones near Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club. Authorities were still working to identify the remains, Abollo said.