Leo Paul Massicotte, who has been missing since July 3, 2011.A man went missing three years ago in Manchester, Tenn., and on Monday morning a human skull was found in an area near where officers had searched this summer for his remains.
Two men were squirrel hunting on Monday when their dog came across human remains on the U.S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center property, which is adjacent to Interstate 24 just north of Exit 117.
The hunters contacted AEDC authorities, according to Manchester police, and a multi-agency law enforcement team composed of AEDC, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and city and county police forces responded.
"The remains were found really close to an area where we specifically looked for a missing person," said Adam Floied, assistant chief with the Manchester Police Department. "The terrain was very dense and difficult to navigate."
In July 2011, Leo Paul Massicotte, who would now be 36, was last seen when his girlfriend dropped him off on Skinner Flat Road in Manchester. Massicotte planned to walk several miles across AEDC property to a friend's home, according to Manchester police.
He was never seen again.
The night that he went missing his cell phone was traced by a local cell tower to a several-square-mile area that included AEDC property, so there is strong reason to believe the remains are those of Massicotte, Floied said.
The remains have not been identified as Massicotte's, but the department anticipates a positive or negative result by the end of the month.
Parts of a DNA profile that had been compiled on Massicotte have been sent to Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, where experts expect to be able to confirm with the medical examiner's office whether these remains match, Floied said.
Meanwhile, Manchester police plan to keep the other agencies informed.
Massicotte is the only missing person reported in Manchester, but there are several missing persons in surrounding counties, Floied said, "and they will all be interested if this turns out not to be our missing person."
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6592.