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U.S.

Louisiana student Michaela Shunick's body found, but cops say little more

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    This undated photo provided by the Lafayette Police Department in Lafayette, La., shows Michaela Shunick. (AP/Lafayette Police Department)

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    Louisiana college student Michaela Shunick, who disappeared May 19, is thought to be the bicyclist seen on this surveillance video. (AP/Lafayette PD)

LAFAYETTE, La. – Human remains found near a Louisiana highway were confirmed Thursday by police to be the decomposing body of missing college student Mickey Shunick, but authorities would say little more about the status of the investigation.

Michaela "Mickey" Shunick was last seen riding her bicycle from a friend's house early May 19. Her remains were found Tuesday in Evangeline Parish.

A two sentence news release Thursday said there will be no further comment on the investigation at this time.

The remains were found after information provided by an unidentified source, Fox 8 reported earlier this week.

"The information was that ... Mickey Shunick's body was buried about 100 yards beyond (Highway) 10 down this roadway beyond a cemetery," Lafayette police spokesperson Paul Mouton told the station. "The source and credible information is so exact that we feel very strongly that this is Mickey Shunick."

Shunick, a student at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, disappeared days before she turned 22. She was last seen riding away from a friend's house on black Schwinn bicycle, which was found in a swampy area at a highway exchange 25 miles away.

Brandon Lavergne, a 33-year-old registered sex offender from Swords, has been charged with both her kidnapping and murder and with the 1999 death of Lisa Ann Pate.

Prosecutors said in court filings last week that Lavergne may have moved both bodies and that "continued tampering" with Shunick's body was meant to hamper the investigation.

Property outside of Lafayette Parish was being investigated in connection with Shunick's disappearance, but the location won't be released while the investigation continues, Cpl. Paul Mouton, a police spokesman, told The Associated Press earlier this week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.