YouTuber Investigating Missing Man Helps Police Find His Suspected Remains in Missouri Pond

Missouri man Donnie Erwin had been missing since December 2013

Authorities announced that the suspected remains of a Missouri man who went missing 10 years ago have been located in a search that was aided by an intrepid YouTuber.

Per a Dec. 17 news release, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office said it was notified on Dec. 16 by a property owner in Southern Camden County, who in turn was contacted by James Hinkle — a freelance videographer, YouTuber and drone pilot — regarding the December 2013 disappearance of 59-year-old Donnie Erwin.

The property owner said that Hinkle was searching an area of Southern Camden County where he believed a submerged vehicle belonging to Erwin was located in a pond.

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Both Hinkle, who oversees the YouTube channel Echo Divers that chronicled the Erwin case, and the property owner searched the area on foot and by kayak leading to the discovery of the submerged vehicle in the pond, authorities said.

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“Deputies and detectives from the Camden County Sheriff's Office as well as members of the Mid-County Fire Protection District Dive Team responded to the area and met with Mr. Hinkle and the property owner,” read the release. “Divers searched the pond and verified the license plate on the submerged vehicle matched the plate on Mr. Erwin's missing Hyundai. With assistance from Bledsoe's Conoco, investigators recovered Mr. Erwin's Hyundai Elantra from the pond and notified his family of the development.”

In a news update from Monday, the sheriff’s office said authorities returned to the pond this past Saturday with cadaver dogs where the Hyundai Elantra was recovered a week earlier and conducted a search.

“Despite the length of time since Mr. Erwin's disappearance, the cadaver dogs alerted to the presence of human remains in the pond. The dogs concentrated on one area near the center of the pond indicating that was the most likely location of the remains,” per the update.

The following day, detectives went back to the pond with divers who searched the area where the cadaver dogs had been previously and recovered human remains from the pond, the update continued. Along with the remains, an artificial hip was found consistent with the one Erwin had.

“While a forensic pathologist will have to examine the remains to determine for certain if they are indeed those of Mr. Erwin, investigators are confident the hip and remains belong to him,” the sheriff’s office's latest update reads.

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Authorities said that Erwin’s family has been contacted by investigators, adding: “All of us at the Camden County Sheriff's Office who have investigated this case for ten years are elated at the recovery and overjoyed with the closure we know this brings to the family. This development would not have been possible without the assistance of countless volunteers throughout the years. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you all.”

YouTuber Hinkle had been interested in the Erwin case for many years, said the sheriff’s office.

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In a Facebook message posted on Monday, Yvonne Erwin-Bowen, Erwin’s sister wrote: “Wow Brother. What a special Christmas this is. Even though you're not with us, we know where you are now and we can rejoice because of it. I love you brother and I miss you terribly, but I know it was God's will that brought you to us and I know you are no longer in pain. I love you very much and I will forever treasure the time I have had with you. You were the BEST big brother any little girl could have asked for!”

PEOPLE contacted the Camden County Sheriff's Office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

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