Police: Body found in Monroe County identified as Chelsea Bruck

A body found in a field in Monroe County on Friday is that of missing woman Chelsea Bruck, who was last seen at a Halloween party in Frenchtown Township six months ago, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said Saturday night.

Bruck's handmade Halloween costume, which was found on April 5 at a vacant industrial site in Flat Rock, and other evidence helped police connect the dots to determine it was a homicide, said Monroe County Sheriff Dale Malone. Dental records confirmed the victim's identity.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bruck family," Malone said at a news conference. He released few details of the case but said, "evidence at the scene indicated it was a homicide."

"In all likelihood, the crime was committed at or near where the body was located," he said.

He would not comment on whether there are any known suspects or any persons of interest.

The Wayne County Medical Examiner's office said an autopsy conducted Saturday morning was inconclusive, and more investigation is needed to confirm how the woman died. A cause of death, Malone said, could take up to a month to determine.

"It's been a long, complicated case," said Malone, who noted police had few details to start with. "It was a puzzle ...we're at three-quarters of the puzzle. And we're not gonna stop."

The Bruck family had launched an exhaustive effort to find Chelsea, including distributing more than 1 million flyers. The family, which was notified at 3:45 p.m. Saturday of the news, was not at the news conference and did not release a statement. Police said they have requested privacy.

Earlier, Monroe County Sheriff Deputy Chief Heath Velliquette said the body, discovered by the property owner at a heavily wooded site close to train tracks near Carleton, appeared to have been at the undeveloped residential property for months.

Velliquette had said an anthropologist was called in to help with the identification. The discovery was made about 2 p.m. Friday after the property owner building a home paused to work on some of the excavating equipment.

Malone said the killer likely knew the area where her body was dumped.

"I believe he was familiar with the railroad tracks that are there," Malone said, noting the area is private property. The property owner is not a suspect, he said.

The site is 12 miles from where Bruck was last seen at the party. "It was a unique costume," Malone said of what Bruck wore. "She hand-made the costume. It was one of a kind."

Supporters shared their sympathy on the Help Find Chelsea Bruck Facebook page, which has more than 12,000 members.

Nathaniel Bruck, who identified himself in a post as Chelsea's brother, wrote, "I want to thank everyone for their efforts. And while this may be the end of the search, it is also a new beginning. The beginning of the search for justice for my sister."

Contact Robert Allen at rallen@freepress.com or @rallenMI Staff writers Katrease Stafford and Gina Damron contributed to this report.