Concrete-encased body identified as former reporter

Sean Dugas worked at the Pensacola News Journal from 2005-2010. Authorities use dental records to identify remains of Sean Dugas Dugas, a former crime reporter in Florida, went missing August 27 Twin brothers have been charged with murder in his death (CNN) -- A body encased in concrete and buried in a Georgia backyard has been identified as that of a former Florida journalist who went missing in August. The positive identification of 30-year-old Sean Dugas was made using dental records and facial bone CT scans, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Friday. Dugas, a former crime reporter at the Pensacola News Journal, had been missing since August 27. William and Christopher Cormier, twin 31-year-old brothers, are charged with murder in Dugas' death, according to police in Winder, Georgia, where the body was found. The brothers had earlier been charged with concealing the death of another person. Winder police went to the home of the brothers' father on Monday, acting on information from Pensacola police, Winder Police Chief Dennis Dorsey said. The father said his sons arrived from Florida three weeks ago, and the brothers told their father they had been caring for the missing man's dog but ended up killing the dog, Winder police said. The dog was buried in the backyard of a home that the father is renting, Dorsey said. In the yard, police unearthed a body in a plastic storage container that had been encased with concrete, Dorsey said. Authorities believe the body was buried about three weeks ago, and the concrete may have been purchased at a Home Depot, Dorsey said. When the two brothers arrived at their father's home during the police investigation, they were detained, Dorsey said. The father hasn't been charged and is cooperating with investigators, Dorsey said. Managing Editor Ginny Graybiel of the Pensacola News Journal said Dugas worked at the newspaper from 2005 to 2010. "He started as a clerk and became a police reporter -- along the way he did a good bit of entertainment coverage," Graybiel said. "Sean was a very gentle, good-hearted soul. To be the victim of a crime like this is, of course, something we never could have imagined." Dugas' girlfriend noticed he was missing August 27 when she went to pick him up at home for lunch that day, Pensacola Police Capt. David Alexander said in a statement. When she returned to the home on September 7, she found it empty except for a television, Alexander said. A man who also lived at the house was gone, police said. The girlfriend reported to police on September 13 that Dugas was missing, Alexander said. CNN's Michael Martinez and Joe Sutton contributed to this report.

Shot fired at Obama campaign office in Denver

By NBC News staff Denver police were looking for a person who shot at a campaign office for President Barack Obama on Friday, NBC station KUSA reported.  Police say there were people inside the office at the time of the 3 p.m. shooting, but no one was hit. A single bullet struck the office and broke the window, Detective Raquel Lopez, Denver police spokesperson, told NBC News. But detectives could not confirm that the shot was fired with the intent to hit the office. Detectives were still investigating the intent of the shot. They were looking into the possibility the shot was fired from a vehicle. Police were reviewing surveillance video for possible leads, KUSA reported. Investigators said they have a "vehicle of interest" and are interviewing witnesses. A campaign official confirmed the incident but referred questions to the Denver police. More content from NBCNews.com: Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. under federal investigation over alleged financial improprieties Gay teen denied Eagle Scout: 'Change is happening' over Boy Scouts anti-gay policy Jerry Sandusky letter to judge: 'Goliath won, and I must deal with the outcome' Chicago public schools chief out in wake of teachers strike Video: Aggressive Biden on the attack in Ryan debate Two toddlers critically injured in attack by aunt's Rottweilers Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Jesse Jackson Jr. faces federal investigation

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. in 2011. By Michael Isikoff, NBC News national investigative correspondent Federal prosecutors and FBI agents in Washington have launched a new criminal investigation of Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. involving alleged financial improprieties, including possible misuse of funds monitored by Congress, law enforcement sources tell NBC News. The probe prompted lawyers for Jackson — who has been on a leave of absence from Congress since June for medical treatment — to meet with federal prosecutors this week in an attempt to persuade them not to bring charges against the congressman, sources said. The sources said it was unclear whether Jackson, who has not been seen in his office for months, would be charged before the November election — a subject that was discussed between Jackson's lawyers and the prosecutors this week. Jackson's lawyers urged the prosecutors not to file charges before the election — but prosecutors refused to make any commitments, the sources familiar with the meeting said. Either way, the new investigation could ratchet up pressure for Jackson to step aside. Despite his illness — which his office has said involves his treatment for bipolar disorder — Jackson is running for re-election, seeking a 10th term. His lawyers did not return email and phone call request for comment. Frank Watkins, Jackson's congressional spokesman, says he has not reached out Jackson and has not spoken to him about the investigation, and that the first he heard of the investigation was when he was contacted by the Chicago Sun Times, which first reported the story. He said he believes Jackson is still in DC. View NBCChicago.com's complete coverage of Jackson investigation The sources, confirming the  account in the Sun-Times, said the new probe is being run out of the U.S. attorney's office in Washington DC. They said it is unrelated to previous allegations that Jackson was part of a scheme to persuade ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich  to name him to the Illinois Senate seat of Barack Obama in exchange for $1 million in campaign contributions from a top fundraiser. The sources did not specify the financial irregularities being investigated. But the Sun-Times said the case involves misuse of funds or an account monitored by Congress.  It comes weeks after a report that Jackson and his wife, Chicago alderwoman Sandi Jackson, put their Washington DC home on the market for $2.5 million. A campaign spokesman said at first the home was put on the market to pay for medical bills, but the Jackson later took it off the market.  Jackson, the son of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson Sr., stopped working June 10, his staffers revealed two weeks later. He first obtained treatment at a facility in Arizona before transferring to the famed Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where doctors said he had "depression and gastrointestinal issues." He left the Mayo Clinic and went back to Washington, D.C. in early September but has not returned to work.  More content from NBCNews.com: Jerry Sandusky letter to judge: 'Goliath won, and I must deal with the outcome' Chicago public schools chief out in wake of teachers strike Ex-Connecticut firefighter pleads guilty to 1986 fatal arson Maryland boy, 4, injured but alive after fall from 9th-story window Video: Aggressive Biden on the attack in Ryan debate Two toddlers critically injured in attack by aunt's Rottweilers Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Body identified as missing 10-year-old Colorado girl

Jessica Ridgeway, 10, was last seen by her mother as she left for school in Westminster, Colorado. Police say a body has been identified as that of young Jessica Ridgeway A police chief says authorities "recognize that there is a predator at large" (CNN) -- A 10-year-old Colorado girl reported missing one week ago is dead, police said Friday. Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk told reporters that a body found earlier this week "has been positively identified" as that of young Jessica Ridgeway. "The family has been notified," Birk said. "We can't begin to comprehend the grief that they are going through." Jessica was last seen by her mother as she left for school. Authorities then issued a statewide Amber Alert for the girl. With Friday's news, law enforcement are now shifting their focus from a search for Jessica to a manhunt for the person they say abducted and killed her. Birk acknowledged that authorities "recognize that there is a predator at large in our community." "We are doing everything within our power to apprehend that individual," he said. HLN: FBI lists possible behavioral traits of abductor

Body is that of missing Colorado girl, police confirm

Colorado authorities confirm that a set of human remains recently discovered are those of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway. By NBC News staff Updated at 6:28 p.m. ET: Police in Colorado confirmed Friday that a dismembered body they discovered earlier in the week in Arvada is that of 10-year-old schoolgirl Jessica Ridgeway, who went missing from her Westminster home a week ago. "Our focus has changed from the search for Jessica to a mission of justice for Jessica," Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk said. "We realize there is a predator at large in our community." Ridgeway began a short walk from her home to Witt Elementary School on the morning of Oct. 5 but never arrived. A massive search by hundreds of law enforcement officers did not start until hours later because Jessica's mother works nights and slept through a call from school officials saying Jessica wasn't there. The FBI had warned residents that she may have been abducted by someone they know and asking them to be alert for people they know who might have suddenly changed their appearance or uncharacteristically Earlier Friday authorities shifted their focus in the case to appealing for help in tracking down her apparent kidnapper by releasing a behavior profile for the suspected kidnapper. "We suspect that someone in the community knows this individual," FBI spokesman Dave Joly said at a press conference Thursday. In their search for Jessica, the FBI in Denver said it's important to focus not on how this person looks but on any kind of unusual behavior. That behavior could include missing work and appointments, leaving town, changes in alcohol and drug use, or changes in appearance, according to an FBI Denver press release. "Somebody who's maybe very engaged in the media coverage of this particular investigation, and maybe they're a little annoyed by all the coverage. AP This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows Jessica Ridgeway. Former FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt said the condition of the body police found Wednesday could indicate an experienced killer. "It's someone who's fully capable of doing something like this again," Van Zandt said.   "It could be your boss, it could be your friend, and, ultimately, it could be your family member," Joly said.  The Associated Press contributed to this report. More content from NBCNews.com: Jerry Sandusky letter to judge: 'Goliath won, and I must deal with the outcome' Chicago public schools chief out in wake of teachers strike Ex-Connecticut firefighter pleads guilty to 1986 fatal arson Maryland boy, 4, injured but alive after fall from 9th-story window Video: Aggressive Biden on the attack in Ryan debate Two toddlers critically injured in attack by aunt's Rottweilers Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Softball-size eyeball found on beach

Gino Covacci finds a blue-tinged softball-size eyeball on Pompano Beach, Florida State experts are looking at the eyeball to try to determine what species it came from "I find many different things ... but not something like this," Covacci says of his walks (CNN) -- When Gino Covacci walks on the beach, he always keeps his eyes peeled for shells, fish and whatever else washes up. But it's not every day that he comes across something that seemingly looks right back at him -- as happened this week. Covacci's discovery: a blue-tinged softball-size eyeball. Even scientists don't know quite where it came from, beyond the sands of Pompano Beach. "I find many different things," he said of his daily walks by the sea, "but not something like this." On Wednesday, Covacci said, he was walking along the southeastern Florida beach with a friend visiting from Greece when he spotted something protruding from the sand. He picked it up, cleaned it off, turned it around and realized he was staring into a giant eyeball. Excited about his find, Covacci flagged down a police officer and eventually got in touch with researchers based across the Sunshine State. "The only thing is, I had to give it up," he said Friday of the eyeball. Carli Segelson, a spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, confirmed Covacci's account and said members of her agency ended up with the specimen. "Staff have been looking at the eye to ID what it is," she said. Experts didn't know late Friday what species the eye belongs to. Segelson said a conclusive finding on its origin could come early next week. For the time being, the wildlife commission spokeswoman said, "the front-runner is some type of large fish." But having peered closely into the mysterious eye, Covacci has other ideas. "It is a squid; it's not a fish," he speculates. "Prove me wrong!" CNN's Greg Botelho and Joe Sutton contributed to this report.

Secret Service member arrested in Fla.

President Obama had been campaigning in Miami on Thursday The arrested man is accused of disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest without violence He was released to Secret Service members (CNN) -- A member of the Secret Service was arrested in Miami early Friday after a run-in with a patrolman, city police said. The incident occurred after President Obama campaigned in the city Thursday. Police spotted Aaron Francis Engler lying down on a street corner, according to a police report, and an officer roused him to help him sit up and stand. He had difficulty standing, the officer said, and had bloodshot eyes, "slurred speech, and a strong odor of alcohol" on his breath. Engler argued and threw his arms around as the officer patted him down, the report said. And when the officer tried to handcuff him, he hit the officer's face, tensed his arm and pulled away. He then turned on his back and hit the officer's chin. The officer called for backup, and two other officers arrived and helped handcuff Engler, authorities said. The arrest occurred at 7 a.m. Engler is accused of disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence. Miami police said he was released to members of the Secret Service Miami field office. The Secret Service says its Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting an internal review of the incident. Obama had delivered remarks at the University of Miami and the JW Marriott Marquis Miami.