The human remains were found near Brazil’s borders with Peru and Colombia during the search for Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who was traveling with Phillips in the remote Javari Valley where the two men went missing. Further investigations are planned to determine the cause of death.
Authorities are still analyzing other human remains that have been found, but are believed to be from Pereira. Two suspects were arrested and one of them confessed to killing the two men and led the police to their remains.
It was reported that Phillips was researching a book on the protection of the Amazon region, the powerful economic interests of its exploitation, and various economic models.