Family-led search party finds remains amid search for missing 18-year-old

EUFAULA, Ala. (WTVM/Gray News) - The parents of a missing 18-year-old are speaking out after human remains were discovered in Alabama last week.

Markavious Rumph Jr. was reported missing on May 7. Five days later, a family-organized search party discovered dismembered and burnt human remains on White Oak Church Road in Eufaula.

Due to the brutalized nature of the recovered remains, the state forensic lab has not been able to make a positive identification. However, Rumph’s family said they are certain it was him.

“That last day that we found him, I told him I said we were going to find him today. I felt it in my heart because I had to pray too hard about it,” Rumph’s mother said.

Rumph, also known as “Lil Mark,” was last seen the night of May 6. His family looked for him every day.

“My son, I went to prayer and my son came to me. I didn’t stop looking until we found him,” Rumph’s mother added.

Eufaula police responded to White Oak Church Road shortly after the discovery and are working with the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation on the case.

“Right now we’re at a standstill. We’re waiting on DNA and positive identification. As you know, in the state of Alabama, that could take a while. This is not ‘NCIS’ or ‘CSI’ on TV,” a police representative said.

Eufaula police seized a black Tahoe two days after Rumph was reported missing and found a shovel with traces of blood inside.

“I’m actually just now slowing down enough to have time for myself, and I still don’t have time because it’s like it’s not stopping. Nothing, and the feeling doesn’t stop,” one family member said.

Rumph just earned his GED and was planning to go to school to become a welder before he disappeared.

“When you leave this world, it speaks volumes when people speak on you and defend you and you don’t have to say anything. It speaks volumes about you,” another relative said.

Police have identified suspects in the murder, but no one has been charged or brought into custody.

“Again, we’re making sure we have every piece of evidence laid in place so when we do issue warrants for the suspects, we’re rock solid,” police said.

The samples recovered from the Tahoe are still being analyzed at the lab, but police said they are very close to charging suspects.

“Everybody makes mistakes, but God gives you enough time to change it and he did that. That’s why he graduated and did everything that he did,” a family member said.