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Daughters tell deputies they ‘panicked,' buried dead father outside Eustis home

EUSTIS, Fla. — The daughters of a Lake County man said they buried their father in the yard of a Eustis home after they “panicked” when they found him dead.

An anonymous tip led deputies to the heavily decomposed body on Parkcrest Drive last month.

Since then, deputies have been waiting on test results to figure out if the body was that of missing 94-year-old Melvin Kort.

Deputies said Wednesday that his two daughters confessed he died four or five years ago from a possible heart attack, and in a panic, they buried his body.

Autopsy results showed the body did not have any signs of blunt force trauma, and the cause of death is still listed as “undetermined.”

Investigators are still working to identify the remains to confirm the daughters’ story and a familial DNA test has been sent to a lab.

Deputies said Kort had a history of mental health issues.

A case file against Susan Kort and Sarah Kort for improper disposal of a deceased body has been sent to the State Attorney’s Office.

Previous Story: Human remains found in Eustis backyard

Updated: LAKE COUNTY, Fla. - Human remains were found buried Friday in the yard of a Eustis home, Lake County deputies said. Detectives said they received a tip that a body may be buried on a property on Parkcrest Drive.