Michelle Le Search Party Discovers Human Remains

Local group formed for Amber Dubois aided the search

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The missing nursing student’s family was conducting a search for her Saturday morning in the Niles and Sunol Canyon areas when a search party volunteer discovered the body in a brushy area around 10:30am.

Police were notified immediately.

Le's family released a statement Saturday night saying they had no comment on the findings and would continue to conduct search parties until Le is found.

"With a suspect in custody, the Hayward PD will continue to work with us to locate Michelle," said the statement, "so that we may have a proper memorial for her and bring closure to our family."

According to Hayward Police Lieutenant Roger Keener, the remains were decomposed, and investigators have not yet been able to determine their gender.

It is unclear how long it will take to identify the remains.

26-year-old Le, who grew up in San Diego and graduated from Mt. Carmel High before moving to the Bay Area, was last seen four months ago. She was taking a class at Kaiser Hospital in Hayward when she left during a break and never returned.

A former friend, 27-year-old Giselle Esteban, was arrested Sept. 7 in connection with Le’s murder.

The find had special meaning for the members of the group joined the search, because they know what it is like to lose a young person.

The group, “Team Amber Rescue," was formed in the wake of the murder of Amber Dubois of San Diego.

Dubois was killed two years ago and her mother Carrie McGonigle established the “Team Amber Rescue” in order to help other families search for loved one.

The group is officially trained in search and rescue and has helped in many searches both in California and out of state.

They volunteered to help this weekend here in the Bay Area. “Team Amber” includes a search dog named Amber.

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