Florida Deputies Find Body That May Be Missing Teacher - FOX 54 WZDX – Huntsville News, Weather and Sports

Deputies in Lee County, Florida have found a body in the area of Bokeelia after Daniel Proctor told them the location of his ex-girlfriend, Amy Patterson's, body.

The 45-year-old Proctor was sentenced in Huntsville Tuesday to life in prison for stealing a Ford Explorer and a .38 millimeter handgun in Madison County last year.

Although he's never been charged, Proctor has been the prime suspect in the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend, 41-year-old Amy Patterson, since she went missing last July.

Sources say shortly after Proctor was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, he told investigators where to find her body.

He pointed them to a spot near her home, which is where deputies have secured a scene and stationed a deputy around the clock.

In a statement released late Tuesday night, Madison County Chief Deputy Chris Stevens said, "The Madison County Sheriff's Office has been assisting the Lee County Sheriff's Office with their ongoing investigation into missing person, Amy Patterson. We cannot comment on their ongoing investigation. Please direct any inquiries to the Lee County, Florida Sheriff's Office."

Here is the complete news release from the Lee County Sheriff's Office:

"Death Investigation Underway on Bokeelia

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

On Tuesday, August 21, 2012, members of the Lee County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit received information from 45 year old Daniel Proctor about the location of a body. As a result, deputies, detectives and crime scene technicians responded to a densely wooded area near Howard Road and Bahama Way, Bokeelia, Florida late yesterday afternoon to investigate further.

A body has been discovered and members of the Forensics Unit will be continuing efforts at excavating the remains for most of the day. The deceased will be turned over to the District 21 Medical Examiner for an autopsy to determine positive identification and cause of death. The Sheriff's Office death investigation continues.

Sheriff's Office detectives had been in Alabama to testify in the trial of Daniel Proctor a former resident of Bokeelia. On September 5, 2011, Daniel Proctor was located in Okeechobee, Florida. He was sleeping in a stolen vehicle, at 3:45 am, when members of the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force approached him in a hotel parking lot. He was taken into custody without further incident and transported back to Lee County where he remained until extradited to Alabama on a warrant for grand theft auto and theft of a firearm.

Earlier that month, investigators identified Proctor as a suspect in the disappearance of his girlfriend Amy Patterson, a middle school teacher with the Lee County School District. She was reported missing in July, 2011 when she did not show up for the start of the school year, July 25th. Detectives feared she was the victim of a domestic homicide. Proctor had fled in her vehicle, which was recovered in Alabama. He stole another vehicle, a 1997 Ford Explorer, and a .380 handgun before leaving a note indicating he may be en route back to Florida. Daniel Proctor has now been convicted on the charges in Alabama. "