The Walton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Wednesday that human remains found in Point Washington State Forest belong to Bret Valona, a 36-year-old Marine Corps veteran from Wisconsin who had been missing since March.
- Valona, an Iraq War veteran and experienced outdoorsman, was last seen March 1 when family members dropped him off at the Eastern Lake Trailhead. He had not been in contact with anyone since the morning of March 2, and his phone stopped working around that time.
His sister reported him missing to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office after he failed to check in at an expected time. Family members later learned Valona had been experiencing suicidal thoughts and feared he may have harmed himself.
The sheriff’s office, along with the Walton Correctional K-9 Team, conducted a search operation March 30 in the Eastern Lake Trailhead area. Family members from Wisconsin also traveled to Florida in April to organize additional search efforts.
- Multiple volunteer organizations participated in the search for Valona, including the Cajun Navy, Civil Air Patrol and retired law enforcement officers. Valona was described as a “primitive outdoorsman” who used minimal equipment to camp and could survive off the land for up to three weeks at a time.
The remains and a campsite were discovered on September 14 by a father and son hiking in the forest, according to the report. The District 1 Medical Examiner confirmed the identification this week. The sheriff’s office said it did not make public notification of the discovery at the request of Valona’s parents until positive identification could be made.
“This is not the update we wanted to share,” the sheriff’s office stated in a social media post. “We want to first say that our hearts hurt for Bret’s family, friends, and everyone who knew and loved him.”
The sheriff’s office also expressed gratitude for the search efforts: “We also want to thank everyone who helped search for Bret, from strangers to the Cajun Navy, Civil Air Patrol, and retired law enforcement. Your efforts are so appreciated. We are in debt to all of you.”
“Please join us in offering comfort to Bret’s family in their time of loss,” the sheriff’s office stated. “Rest peacefully, Bret. Semper Fi.”
