CORAL SPRINGS , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Authorities solved a 31-year-old disappearance this year when they found the remains of Jeff Klee , missing since 1977 , in a van in a canal . Jeff Klee had been missing since 1977 ; his remains were found this year . But prosecutors have announced that no charges would be filed against the man who , authorities say , admits that he put Klee 's body in the van three decades earlier . `` Today is a sad day for our family , '' Klee 's sister , Laurel Steele , told reporters Thursday . `` It tests my family 's faith to its very core . '' Klee 's remains were found in March during a routine police sweep for stolen vehicles in the C-14 canal in Coral Springs , Florida . The van was in neutral when police discovered it . DNA confirmed Klee 's identity , but authorities say there was not enough evidence to determine how he died -- and whether he had been killed . Watch Klee 's sister react to the decision '' The Broward County State Attorney 's Office said the statute of limitations on possible manslaughter charges expired in 1980 . As for a more serious charge such as first-degree murder to which a statute of limitations would not apply , prosecutors said they do n't have any evidence of premeditation or that the death was caused by a criminal act . Police had long thought Klee 's best friend , David Cusanelli , was the last person to see him alive June 21 , 1977 . According to a memorandum released Thursday by the Broward County State Attorney 's Office , Cusanelli told authorities this July 28 that he put Klee 's body inside his black Chevy van after he was dead and that his brother , Carl Cusanelli , helped shove the van into the canal . But Cusanelli denied involvement in Klee 's death , prosecutors said . Mitch Polay , the defense attorney for the Cusanelli brothers , reiterated that denial . He said the brothers ' statements `` were taken out of context , and they were posed as hypotheticals to drum up potential memories of the event . '' `` My clients , for 31 years , have denied any involvement , '' Polay told CNN . `` They had no involvement with pushing any van into the water , nor did they have any involvement with the death of Jeff Klee . '' According to the prosecution memorandum , Cusanelli told police that he and Klee had an argument over a former girlfriend . Cusanelli said Klee began to chase him out at the canal that night , the document alleges . Cusanelli said that `` all he remembers is , he turned around and saw that Jeff had fallen and was on the ground , and his head was split open , and there was a lot of blood , '' according to the document . `` There was definitely a confrontation that night , which resulted in Jeff Klee 's death , '' lead Detective David Weissman said Thursday . Cusanelli told police that he ran away from Klee because he was in fear of his life and that he has no idea how Klee fell . Cusanelli concedes that he may have thrown a rock at Klee , according to the prosecution memo . Cusanelli , according to the memo , said he panicked and put Klee 's body inside his van . He then called his brother Carl , who helped push the vehicle into the canal , the memo alleges . In the state attorney 's memorandum , Cusanelli said Klee was bleeding from a serious head wound and was not breathing . He told authorities he would never have put Klee 's body into the van and rolled it into the canal if Klee was n't dead , the memo says . Carl Cusanelli told police he helped push the van into the canal , the memo says , but denied any knowledge that Klee may have been in the van at the time . David Cusanelli also told police that he thinks he blocked the whole incident from his memory and that only recently did some details begin to materialize , according to the prosecution memo . `` It 's turned their worlds upside down . They are very upset , '' said Polay , the defense attorney . `` Thirty-one years ago , David was best friends with Jeff Klee . '' Coral Springs Police Chief Duncan Foster expressed frustration that no charges are being brought . `` Jeff Klee was a loved member of someone 's family , and that has no time limits , '' Foster said . `` It 's just very , very frustrating for us . '' Steele , Klee 's sister , said , `` Victimized by the loss of Jeff so many years ago , we are victimized once again . '' Klee 's mother , Florence Klee , clutched a framed photo of her son but did not speak during Thursday 's news conference . Klee 's father died about two years ago . Authorities said the case remains open . The family and the police are asking for the public to help them find any possible evidence of what happened that summer night in 1977 at the canal . `` Justice has been denied , '' Steele said .