Corfu, N.Y. (WBEN) - Genesee County Sheriff William Sheron said human remains were recovered from the site of Friday's deadly plane crash that claimed the life of attorney Steve Barnes and his niece Elizabeth Barnes. The recovered remains were sent to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's office for DNA testing, toxicology tests and other standard examination.
"We have located some human remains," said Sheron as he updated reporters near the crash site Sunday. Personal items of the Barnes were also recovered from the scene according to Sheron.
An extensive investigation and recovery effort has been underway since Friday and work at the crash crater will continue for several days, Sheron said.
Sheron said the Federal Aviation Administration has been on-site since Friday and was acting in place of the NTSB, which announced Saturday it would not travel to the crash site. That decision has drawn criticism and both Republican Congressman Chris Jacobs and Democrat Brian Higgins ahve sent a letter asking the NTSB to avtively investigate on site. Sheron did say the aircraft wreckage would be shipped to Tennessee for NTSB examination.
Genesee County Jeff McIntire is not concerned about the NTSB not being on site, and says, "The investigation would not change whatsoever if the NTSB was actually on site."
Barnes was well known for the catchy TV jingle advertising his law firm, Cellino & Barnes. Authorities said he was piloting the single-engine Socata TBM-700 that crashed at midday Friday near Pembroke, New York.
