Volusia County Sheriff’s detectives investigating the disappearance of a 16-year-old Ormond Beach girl almost 20 years ago discovered human remains during the excavation of a suspected burial site in Central Florida.
The remains are believed to be those of Autumn Lane McClure, a Mainland High School student who was last seen May 10, 2004, when her boyfriend dropped her off at the Volusia Mall.
Sheriff’s detectives continued to investigate the case in the nearly 20 years that followed, obtaining DNA from family members, re-interviewing friends and possible witnesses, and identifying a person of interest in 2021. That person died in May 2022, but the investigation continued.
The investigation led to a suspected burial site in the Ormond Beach area. According to law enforcement, human remains were discovered during excavation of the site.
“Not the result anyone hoped for in 2004 or ever since, but I am very proud of the work that went into this discovery 20 years later,” Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood posted. “At the very least, we can say that we never gave up on Autumn McClure.”
