Body found in eastern P.E.I. believed to be that of Summer Kneebone, police say

A body found in a remote area of Kings County, P.E.I.,is believed to be the remains of27-year-old Summer Kneebone, according to Charlottetown police.

In a news release Friday, police said detectives found the body at 11:40 a.m. The locationin Kings County was not disclosed.

"I struggle to call this a victory," lead investigatorDet.-Sgt. Darren MacDougalltold CBC News. "The sadness of the family, when you see it first-hand, it really is hard."

The remains were found outdoors on a rural property, and police have declared the area a crime scene.

The Native Council of Prince Edward Island issued a statement about the developmentFriday afternoon, saying: "With great sorrow, we have learned of the recovery of remains believed to be Summer Dawn Kneebone."

The organization, which said Kneebone had accessed its services in the past, had earlier launched a ground search for signs of her with the help of friends, relatives and volunteers.

"We will continue to stand with the family and remain an active presence of support," the statement continued. "During times of grief, a community chooses to rally together and unite as one. The Native Council community will remain united for Summer and her family."

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MacDougallsaidthe policeinvestigation still has to find answers to many questions surrounding Kneebone's disappearance.

"It's not over. We're still piecing a lot of this together," hesaid. "As we piece this together, we will continue to notify the public through media and other sources There's still a lot of work to do here."

Two arrested earlier

Earlier this week, police arrested and charged two P.E.I. residentsin connection with Kneebone's disappearance.

Donald Roy Holmes, 44, and Samantha Jemima Parlee-Buell, 32, are facing chargesunderSection 182(b) of the Criminal Code of Canadaof interfering with a dead body or human remains.

MacDougall said police had issued a Canada-wide warrant for their arrest.

They are both from Pembroke,just north of Murray Harbour in southeasternP.E.I., but were arrested in New Glasgow, N.S.

Kneebone had beenmissing since Aug. 7. Police, family, friends and volunteers had been searching for her since she was reported missing a week later.

Kneebone's phone and bank cards had not been used since the night she vanished.

Last Saturday, P.E.I.'s Missing Persons Act came into effect allowing policeaccess to a missing person's phone and internet records information they previouslycould only get during a criminal investigation.