Cops: Remains found in burned cabin of missing Calif. family

BENICIA, Calif. -- Authorities say that human remains were found in the burned down cabin of a missing San Francisco Bay Area family.

The Vallejo Times Herald reports that longtime Benicia resident Adam Buchanan, 37, his son Gavin, 7, and Gavin's mother Molly McAfee, 36, were declared missing following a Sept. 13 fire that destroyed their cabin in El Dorado County, about 70 miles east of Sacramento.

Stephen Gizzi, a Buchanan family attorney, told SFGate.com that that the family left Benicia for the vacation cabin, more than 100 miles northeast, Sept. 11. Two days later, a fire destroyed the cabin along with 10 acres of surrounding property.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office released a statement confirming that investigators found remains of two bodies in the burned down house.

The identifications of the bodies were not immediately known.

The sheriff's office is working with the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office and Sacramento County Coroner's Office to determine the cause of the fire, cause of death and identification of the remains. It was not immediately known if foul play is suspected.

Sheriff's deputies searched Adam Buchanan's home and business office in Benicia Sept. 15 and seized records, computers and a pickup truck, reported SFGate.com. Buchanan also has a 16-year-old son who remained in front of the house during the search, reports the website.

Gizzi reportedly said the "remaining members of Buchanan's family are cooperating with authorities."