Chandra Levy's remains found in D.C. park

Police Chief Charles Ramsey made the grim announcement about 6 p.m., after the remains found Wednesday morning in Rock Creek Park were identified through dental records. He said the investigation, previously treated as a missing person case, would now be treated as a death investigation.

"The medical examiner's investigation into the manner and cause of death is still pending," he said. "We have found quite a bit of the skeletal remains."

Levy, 24, was last seen in Washington on April 30, 2001. Her case generated tremendous publicity because of her relationship with Rep. Gary Condit, D-California.

Condit denied any involvement with Levy's disappearance. But the fallout destroyed his political career, and he was defeated in the Democratic primary in March.

Condit's staffers said the congressman watched Ramsey's announcement on television in a cloakroom in the Capitol. Earlier in the day, after the remains were found but before they were identified, he declined to comment.

Attorneys for Levy's parents, who live in Modesto, California, plan to release a statement at 4:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. EDT). Ramsey said the parents learned the news through the media and he later spoke with them to confirm that the remains were those of their daughter.