Body Found In Murray Lake Identified
HAMBURG TWP. (WWJ) - The body found partially submerged in Murray Lake at Brighton State Recreation Area on Thursday has been identified as that of a missing 19-year-old man.
The Livingston County Medical Examiner says the victim's body is that of Chad Austin Killen, formerly of Brighton. Dental records were used to identify the body.
Killen's body was discovered by a kayaker on the north side of the lake. The body was found partially submerged and buried in the mud, leading the kayaker to believe it was headless. This, however, was not the case.
According to Hamburg Township Police, the body appeared to have been in the water for an extended period of time and was so badly decomposed, officers were not initially able to tell whether it was male or female.
Crews from Hamburg Township Police Department, Michigan State Police Brighton Post 12, Hamburg Fire Department and Howell Area Fire Department took nearly five hours to remove the body, which was found in a marsh area of the lake.
Killen was reported missing to the Green Oak Charter Township Police Department and was last seen in May 2009. He was 17-years-old at the time of his disappearance.
Officers initiated a missing person's investigation at the time of the report and a follow-up investigation to locate Killen has continued ever since, with police making numerous contact with family members.
At this time, foul play is not suspected. The investigation remains open.
