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Friday, March 29, 2024

Deer hunter finds human remains buried off trail in Ocala National Forest

Marion County sheriff’s detectives have launched an investigation after human remains were reported Sunday in the Ocala National Forest.

Human remains were found Sunday off SE Forest Road 5 in the Ocala National Forest.

Deputies and detectives responded to SE Forest Road 5 in Umatilla after a man who was deer hunting spotted something that looked suspicious about 200 yards into a trail. He asked a friend to bring him a shovel and when he moved some leaves and brush in the disturbed area and started digging, he said it “smelled really bad like death,” a sheriff’s office report states.

The hunter notified a Florida Fish and Wildlife officer of his findings and the sheriff’s office was then alerted.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective O’Cull at (352) 732-9111. Those wishing to make anonymous tips can contact Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352) 368-STOP (7867) or www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.