Authorities have identified a man's body found in the Meadow Lakes area near Wasilla last week as that of Corey Newell, the 33-year-old Palmer man who was reported missing in early January.
Family members said Newell was last seen Dec. 29 leaving his ex-girlfriend's home off Pittman Road on a snowmachine. He was bound for a friend's home about 10 miles away but never arrived.
His functioning snowmachine was found between two trees near Pittman Road, about 2.5 miles from the friend's home.
On Feb. 12, troopers received a report of a man's body in the woods off Pittman Road, which an autopsy revealed to be Newell's.
Troopers said the cause and circumstances surrounding Newell's death are still under investigation.
Reach Devin Kelly at dkelly@adn.com or 257-4314.
By DEVIN KELLY