Surveillance Helps Police Find FSU Grad's Body
Tallahassee (CBSMiami) -- A day after Tallahassee Police confirmed that a body found in an empty room of a vacant building was that of missing former Florida State University grad Ryan Uhre, new questions have risen.
Uhre, 23, was found two blocks away from his former fraternity house. His former frat brothers were stunned to learn taht their friend, their brother, the person they were searching for was found so close.
"It literally is, one moment it doesn't seem like it is happening and the next minute, snap, it will kick in he's gone," said Jake Johnson.
Uhre was last seen by friends leaving a sports bar on Super Bowl Sunday. After a massive search effort in Tallahassee, police got a break when discovered two video cameras captured Uhre alive in an alley between buildings the night he disappeared. It's the last time video captured him alive.
"Mr. Uhre was seen in this alley way which brought us back down to this specific location and started again to do the search," said Tallahassee police spokesman Dave Northway, referring to the surveillance footage.
He was found inside a building when police spotted him through a window.
"You can see right there (on the second story) in the corner of the window. That window itself did not have a board on it at the time that our investigator went up there," said Northway.
The owner of the building said it was gutted years ago and has sat vacant ever since. The two story building is just four walls and roof, there is no second story floor.
The nagging question police are still trying to answer is why was he there? What was he doing in this building?
"This is a very secure area back here. There's even signs saying 'danger, no floor', things like that," said Northway.
On Wednesday, an autopsy was performed on Uhre. Detectives have not released the results.
Ryan's friends and fraternity brothers said Uhre had big plans for the future.
"He put aside the menial things in life and was able to take out the true pleasure. He knew what really meant something in life. He made a difference in the world," said Jackson.
Ryan's friends are at least grateful to have a few answers, but crushed that their friend is gone.
"In a sense we're relieved that we know he's in a better place right now, but of course we always wanted this to end well, and have him come in the front door and give you all a hug, unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way," said Chris McConville.
As investigators in Tallahassee try to piece together Ryan Uhre's final hours, family and friends in South Florida are grappling with his tragic death.
"Just a great kid, even in the tough times. He always had a smile on his face," remembers his wrestling coach Mark Fee.
Uhre was a two year starter for Varsity Wrestling at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale. He began wrestling his Freshman year and quickly excelled. In his Junior year he was district and regional champion and district champion in his senior year, said Fee.
"From being such a small kid and wrestling big men, it was a big thing for him. He was five feet two and 112 pounds and even at that size he was a tough kid," said Fee.
Fee says Ryan's dad Michael was very involved with the wrestling program.
"It's a parent's worst nightmare. I have two sons of my own. It's a tough situation,"said Fee.
Even after Ryan Uhre left for Florida State he always made times for his former wrestling teammates and friends when he returned home to Weston.
Brandon Pellecer was Uhre's drill partner and says they would practice wrestling moves for two to three hours a day.
"He was probably one of the funniest people I knew. He could always make you smile. I'm trying my best to figure out him not being here anymore. It's heartbreaking."
Ryan Uhre's paternal grandmother Jane Uhre, tearfully told CBS4, "He was wonderful and loved everyone. Everyone I spoke to him, no matter what, he always told me he loved me."
Plans for Ryan Uhre's burial are pending