In a significant breakthrough, investigators in Florida have discovered human remains that are believed to belong to Autumn Lane McClure, a 16-year-old girl who vanished nearly two decades ago. The Volusia Sheriff's Office made the announcement after unearthing the remains at the Shady Oaks mobile home park in Ormond Beach on Wednesday.

McClure was reported missing by her grandmother on May 10, 2004. Despite receiving letters and phone calls from McClure shortly after her disappearance that suggested she would return home after turning 18, she was never seen again. The case was never considered a "cold case" by Sheriff Mike Chitwood, who highlighted the dedication and tenacity of the investigative units involved.

While a formal identification is pending, McClure's family has been notified of the discovery. Sheriff Chitwood expressed their commitment to never giving up on finding answers in McClure's case and offered prayers and condolences to the family.

The initial investigation suggested that McClure had been staying with Jessica Freeman, a co-worker from her job at Winn-Dixie. Freeman, along with her boyfriend Brian Christopher Donley Jr., lived in the Shady Oaks mobile home park at the time. The couple informed investigators that McClure had briefly stayed with them but claimed ignorance about her whereabouts afterward.

However, a tipster came forward in 2021 alleging that Donley and his girlfriend were involved in the death of a teenage girl in Volusia County. Detectives obtained additional evidence supporting the accusation and, following immunity granted to Freeman, she admitted that Donley had killed McClure in their trailer.

Despite changes in mobile home park ownership over the years, detectives managed to arrange for the excavation, including moving the trailer and concrete. The University of Florida's Maples Center for Forensic Medicine provided invaluable assistance, using ground-penetrating radar to guide the dig. The result was the recovery of a 99% complete set of human remains.

Unfortunately, Brian Christopher Donley Jr. passed away in 2022 at the age of 49 and therefore cannot be prosecuted for the alleged murder, according to Sheriff Chitwood. Despite this setback, he expressed hope that Donley had ultimately faced the consequences for his actions.

The closure brought by the discovery of Autumn Lane McClure's remains was met with gratitude and relief by Dr. Lerah Sutton of the Maples Center for Forensic Medicine, who expressed appreciation for the opportunity to assist in bringing resolution to a case that has plagued her family for almost two decades.

As the investigation continues and formal identification is awaited, this breakthrough will hopefully provide long-awaited answers and closure for Autumn Lane McClure's family and bring some measure of justice for her untimely death.