About two weeks after workers who were clearing brush at an East Naples park found human remains, authorities said they have identified who they belong to.
A group of workers who were clearing brush in a wooded area near the back of Sugden Community Park, in East Naples, on May 21 reported they found a human skull on the ground and a length of rope hung from a nearby tree branch.
Karie Partington, spokesperson for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, on June 3 were positively identified to Edward Mark Votava, 40, of Naples, through dental records. Partington said his cause and manner of death remain under investigation.
According to the National Missing and Unidentified Missing Persons System, Votava was last seen in Cape Coral in February 2023.
Authorities on May 21 received one 911 call, alerting them that two workers found Votava’s remains.
According to an incident report, Collier County authorities just after 2 p.m. May 21 responded to Sugden Community Park.
When the deputy approached the area, between 40 and 50 feet into the tree line, he saw what appeared to be a human skull on the ground.
Near the skull, the deputy wrote in his report, he saw a length of rope hung from a tree branch. The rope appeared to have a noose tied at the lower end near the skull.
On scene, authorities also found a backpack, but the details of what it carried remain redacted in the report.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@usatodayco.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Authorities identify remains found at Sugden Community Park
Reporting by Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
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By Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
