FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Relatives of missing teenagers in the Dominican Republic have identified them as the deceased in a wheel well of a JetBlue plane at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport earlier this month.
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Detectives from the Broward Sheriff’s Office recently traveled to the Dominican Republic to meet with investigators and possible family members of the deceased, the department said.
Nelson René said his relative, 17-year-old Jey Anilu, had been missing from his home since Jan. 3.
On Wednesday, René told Local 10, “The family had a DNA test done — it came back positive,” and that the whereabouts of one teen reported missing are still unknown.
René said some in the community suspected Anilu and two other teenagers planned to escape the country.
Investigators said the deadly discovery was made Jan. 6 during a routine post-flight inspection.
BSO has not yet connected the missing teenagers to the case at this time, but in a press release indicated that detectives are continuing to gather evidence and are working closely with the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office to positively identify the individuals.