VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Detectives in Volusia County believe the human remains they found belong to a teen girl who has been missing for 20 years.
The sheriff said 16-year-old Autumn McClure was reported missing in 2004 in Daytona Beach. Detectives said they found the remains this week buried in Ormond Beach and believe she was killed.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood said their suspect, Brian Donley, died two years ago but his own family member finally came forward and told detectives he had an idea where McClure might be.
“The sad part is he will never face in this world for the evil that he perpetrated,” the sheriff said.
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Detectives this week found the remains under a mobile home off Hand Avenue in the Shady Oaks neighborhood in Ormond Beach.
McClure was reported missing in 2004 by her grandmother.
Sheriff Chitwood said detectives found McClure had been staying with a coworker, Jessica Freeman, and Freeman’s boyfriend, Brian Donley, but they told detectives they had not seen her.
The case went cold and then in 2021, detectives said they got a call from Donley’s relative.
“He basically tells the detective, I’ve got to get this off my chest and basically what I need to tell you is there is a teenage girl who is missing and is dead and is buried in Volusia County, and Brian Donley and/or Jessica Freeman had something to do with this,” said Chitwood.
The sheriff said detectives circled back to Freeman, who finally talked once she was granted immunity.
“They were involved in a sexual relationship with Autumn. Now keep in mind, Brian was 31 at the time and Autumn was 16,” the sheriff said.
Freeman told detectives Donley killed McClure and threatened to do the same to her if she told anyone. The sheriff said Freeman believed Donley killed McClure because McClure wanted to leave their house and go home, and he was afraid she would say something about the relationship.
The sheriff said Donely died in 2022 from a medical complication, though. Detectives finally then heard from Freeman again last year.
“In late 2023, I guess she realizes this immunity stuff really works, she contacts Detective McGuire and says she’s buried underneath where that trailer was,” the sheriff said.
Forensic crews began excavating, pulling apart the current property and driveway, and finally found the remains this week.
Detectives aren’t sure yet how Donely may have killed McClure, but strongly believe he did it.
“To be able to go to the family and say look at least she can be buried with dignity now. Not folded up and shoved in some crawl space,” said Chitwood.
Detectives said they were able to get ahold of McClure’s twin brother, one of her only remaining living family members, and they say he told them he was relieved to hear she had finally been found and he could have closure.
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