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 .
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