Mysterious Bones Found in Leesburg Florida Finally Identified

Twelve years after Landrith "Bud" Parker wondered from his Bassville Park home, his family finally has closure as to what happened. In January, two Orlando biologists stumbled across the remains on the Leesburg International Airport property right behind the Lowes Home Improvement Center on Highway 441. Even though Parker's personal belongings were found with the bones, the medical examiners office still wanted to conduct the official identification and autopsy.

Today the district medical examiner's office has released its presumptive identification of mysterious bones that were discovered in January on Leesburg International Airport property, and officials say they are of 78 year old Landrith "Bud" Parker. Medical officials stated they had a hard time matching exact dental records but then decided that they had sufficient proof to make the ID. Parker's wallet and other personal belongings were found with the skull and femur bones.

Landrith "Bud" Parker left his home on March 21st, 1995 for his normal daily walk, but never returned. Parker who was 78 years old at the time was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Parker was said to have loved airplanes and would watch them take off from the Leesburg Airport. It is believed on this day that his curiosity sparked his interest and he headed the 3 miles towards the airport. Parkers family, neighbors and friends looked for him for weeks after he disappeared, hoping he would just come back home one day.

Parkers family are now planning on moving the remains to a local funeral home and are planning an interment ceremony in the upcoming months to finally lay him to rest.

Source: Orlando Sentinel "Mysterious bones identified as belonging to man missing 12 years" www.orlandosentinel.com