2 bodies found at Texas beach identified as missing New Hampshire couple

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (WITI) -- The remains of a man and woman found this week on a beach in Texas were identified as a couple from New Hampshire who had been camping there, according to a Nov. 1 Kleberg County Sheriff's Office release.

James Butler III and Michelle Butler were reported missing on Oct. 23 after family and friends lost contact with them.

Their remains were found Sunday, Oct. 27 on a Padre Island beach in Corpus Christi by a Kleburg County deputy. Chief Deputy Jaime Garza told CNN they were buried in the sand.

Their deaths were ruled homicides by the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office. It didn't release information about the cause of death.

The couple's truck and camping trailer were missing, the sheriff's office said. The couple, on Oct. 15, set up their trailer near the spot on the beach where they were found. Someone communicated with them the next day, the release said.

James Butler's sister Deborah van Loon told KZTV she spoke to her brother on the 16th and he asked her to show his house to prospective buyers. The couple had been traveling around the country since June 2018 taking part-time jobs, she said.