PALM BAY, Fla. – A missing person case has escalated after human remains were discovered in Palm Bay, according to the police department.
In a release, police said they received information related to the missing person investigation on Wednesday, which led them to a home along Turk Road.
As such, detectives and a SWAT team searched the building, where they came across George Mancilla, 51, police added. He was taken into custody and now faces charges of possessing drug paraphernalia and probation violation.
However, detectives followed up on another bit of information connected to the same missing person case, which took them to a wooded area on Santo Domingo Avenue, the release shows.
There, they said they found human remains, which have yet to be identified.
As such, Palm Bay police announced they are working with the Medical Examiner’s Office to identify the remains and the cause of death.
“We know the community has observed a significant law enforcement presence in these areas and, rightfully so, become curious,” the release reads. “We understand and respect the public’s desire for immediate information, but information is often shared when it is confirmed, or when it won’t compromise the integrity of the investigation.”
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At this time, no information is available about whether the remains are connected to the missing person investigation.
Furthermore, investigators did not detail how or whether Mancilla factors into the missing person case.