Remains of Missing Woman, 37, Are Found in a Houston Manhole

Human remains that were found down a Houston manhole cover have been officially identified as those of vanished a year ago.

Brittany Burfield, 37, was reported missing in June 2018.

Brittany Burfield

Alex Haggerty has been charged with her death and allegedly told a local activist where her body was hidden.

‘His main concern with me was he wanted to get this off his chest,’ Quanell X said on Friday to KHOU.

‘They removed a manhole cover and they dropped her body down a manhole and put the steel iron cover back over it.’

Haggerty, 37, was charged with Burfield’s murder despite her body never having been found, until now.

Officials say Haggerty admitted to killing Burfield to his family and friends.

He told how he drugged, suffocated, shot and possibly even stabbed her, although he later denied the graphic details when questioned by the authorities.

Alex Haggerty

At the time of her disappearance, Texas EquuSearch volunteers spent several days searching for her body.

‘I’m positive when we were searching out here we walked over that manhole probably several times,’ EquuSearch’s Tim Miller said.

‘Of all the places, right in the middle of the street in a residential area is the last place anyone would have thought.’

I love Brittany. And I would have loved her no matter if we found her or didn’t find her,’Trisha Valentine, Burfield’s mother said to KHOU. ‘But I am so excited to have her back. I’m telling you, the emotions inside of me right now can’t be contained.’

Valentine had asked for help in finding her daughter’s body since she vanished a year ago.

‘I needed her body for Haggerty’s trial,’ Valentine said. ‘I have known where she’s at, she’s been in heaven with the Lord.’

‘I actually walked up to Haggerty and I told him through it all, ‘I want to tell you thank you,” Miller said. ‘I said, “This family did need the closure and thank you for at least doing that.”‘

‘Their lives never ever will be the same but at least they’ll have a little spot now with a headstone where they can take flowers and visit and can try to put their lives back together.’

Investigators say Burfield was trying to help Haggerty get his life back on track. She gave him and his girlfriend a place to stay for a little while.

Haggerty used Burfield’s phone to call his parole officer after she was reported missing, investigators said. Haggerty denied the claims.