Chilling details emerge after man who vanished on Christmas Eve found dismembered in barrel sealed w

A MISSING man was found dismembered and sealed in a barrel of concrete after a one month search.

The remains of Michael Bradley Cox, 40, were found in a North Carolina property belonging to parolee Jackie Lamar Bright, 42.

Police discovered the butchered remains of Cox on January 26 within a barrel of hardened concrete in a wooded area of the suspect's property near Raleigh in North Carolina.

Lee County Sheriff's Office said: "The barrel was seized and sent to the North Carolina State Medical Examiner’s Office for further inspection.

"The Medical Examiner’s Office removed the concrete and discovered a dismembered body inside of the barrel."

Police had been searching for Cox, who had not been send since December 24.

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Investigators have not yet released a motive, nor have they shared how the two men were connected.

The sheriff's office said: "Bright has a very extensive criminal history and was released from prison in May of 2022".

Bright's home had previously been searched on January 6, which led to an initial arrest on "unrelated" drug charges and possession of a stolen vehicle.

The vehicle was found in an outbuilding, along with a considerable quantity of marijuana, opioids and cocaine.

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Bright made bail, yet was arrested again on January 11 for breaking parole and drug violations.

The suspect was in custody when the police made the grim discovery of Cox's body on his property after an extensive search over two days.

The investigation remains ongoing and the sheriff's office expects additional charges will be brought forward.

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