Body Found in National Park ‘Preliminarily Identified’ as Missing Virginia Firefighter

Remains found Thursday in a remote part of Shenandoah National Park have been tentatively identified as a Virginia firefighter missing since this past Friday. 

Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller confirmed in an email to the Associated Press that the body is likely that of 31-year-old Nicole Mittendorff, of Woodbridge, Va. 

Geller said that the Virginia medical examiner would confirm the body's identity, and added that the remains had been taken to the chief medical examiner's office in Manassas.

Meanwhile, it's reported that police found a suicide note inside Mittendorff's car, which was located Saturday more than a mile from where the body was discovered. Investigators do not suspect any foul play in Mittendorff's disappearance. 

Law enforcement officials said the remains were found in treacherous, rocky terrain about 330 yards off a trail. A ground search involving search and rescue team members from several agencies was called off at around 2 p.m. Thursday after the remains were located. 

Mittendorff's sister, Jennifer Clardy Chalmers, released a statement saying, "We believe that Nicole has been found and is finally coming home, however not in the way we anticipated. This is not the positive outcome that we continued to hope and pray for over the past week. … We thank everyone for their time, dedication and support in our search to find Nicole and ask that you keep our family in your prayers in the challenging days ahead."

Mittendorff was reported missing after she failed to show up Friday morning for her job with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. Her family had previously said that Mittendorff, an avid runner and tri-athlete, may have been training on a trail near where her car was found.

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