LAKE WALES, Fla. –The body of 13-year-old Boston Bramlage has been recovered. Searchers combed a wooded area with K-9s and ATVS along with helicopters after five members of his family were killed when their single-engine plane went down in central Florida on Thursday. The boy’s body was recovered sometime on Friday.
During a news conference on Friday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said it’s likely the boy was ejected mid-air before the plane crashed. Witnesses on the ground said they saw the small-engine plane come apart before it hit the ground.
The plane was reportedly at 26,000 feet when it began to experience trouble. Investigators on Friday said the plane fell off the radar at 25,000 feet, followed by a mayday call.
Pieces of the aircraft were found scattered two miles throughout the wooded area where the plane came to rest. Investigators on Friday said the crash was complex and their investigation could take nine months to a year to complete.
All six members of the Bramlage family were on board the silver single-engine Pilatus PC-12 plane when it crashed shortly after takeoff. Investigators said it was immediately apparent no one survived the crash.
Grief Counselors will be available Monday and Tuesday, June 11 & 12 for grieving families at three locations. Counselors will be at Lincoln Elementary, Junction City Middle School and Junction City Freshmen Success Acad. from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Related: Plane Crash Kills Six Members of Prominent Kansas Family
The Bramlage family is of Junction City, Kan., and were returning home after vacationing in the Bahamas. The Bramlage family is known for giving scholarships and other large, charitable donations to Kansas State University, including funds for the K-State basketball area — Bramlage Coliseum.
Below: Florida reporter gives early morning update on Friday