Remains of Missing Alaska Family Likely Found: Cops

A nearly yearlong search for a missing Alaska family has come to a grim end with the discovery of four bodies, a dead dog, and a handgun just off a trail in a rural area near the family's home. Rebecca Adams, 23; her boyfriend, Brandon Jividen, 38; and her children, Michelle Hundley, 6, and Jaracca Hundley, 3, lived on a quiet street on the outskirts of Kenai, a fishing community about 65 miles southwest of Anchorage; they were last seen in May. Kenai Police Lt. Dave Ross said yesterday the bodies haven't been officially identified by a coroner, but authorities have every indication it's the missing family. A gun found with the bodies matched the serial number from a box found in the family's home. Ross said there's no reason to believe another person was involved in the deaths, and it appears the four people died where they were found.

The bodies were discovered within a half-mile of the family's home Saturday after a person driving a vehicle on a trail spotted clothing and human remains and called police. The bodies were about 15 yards from the trail, used mostly by four-wheelers and snowmobiles. Adams' sister, Lanell Adams of Washington state, previously told a local newspaper that she last spoke to Rebecca Adams on Memorial Day weekend; Rebecca sounded as if she were in distress but wouldn't say what was wrong, Lanell said. Relatives later requested police check on the family; when they couldn't be found, Lanell Adams flew to Kenai. The four people and their dog, an English springer spaniel named Sparks, were gone, and it appeared they had left without packing. The couple's two vehicles were parked outside their duplex, and June rent hadn't been paid. Ross provided few other details, saying the investigation remains open and "very much in an active stage." Police said it would take time to positively identify the remains. (More Alaska stories.)