Body of missing La. college student identified
Police positively identified a body on Aug. 9, 2012 to be that of missing Louisiana college student Michaela "Mickey" Shunick. Investigators acted on a tip that led them to a private, unpaved road in Evangeline Parish on Aug. 7, where they found her body buried in an overgrown area behind the cemetery, spokesman Paul Mouton said.
Dental and medical records were used to help identify the remains as those of Shunick. It could be two to four weeks before investigators are able to determine a cause of death. Mouton said there will be no further comment on the Shunick investigation at this time.
Shunick was last seen on a bicycle leaving a friend's residence around 2:00 a.m. on May 19, 2012, according to a Lafayette Police Department press release. Authorities said 33-year-old registered sex offender Brandon Scott Lavergne was charged on July 5, 2012 with first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping in connection with Shunick's case. Lavergne has pleaded not guilty.
