Remains were found Wednesday during a search for a Vancouver man who police believe was accidentally buried and killed while digging for treasure in Clark County.

James L. Moore was reported missing by family members back in November of 2007.

Officials said Wednesday afternoon they found a body buried about 25 feet down and they believe it's Moore but the identity of the body has yet to be officially confirmed.

Authorities were digging with hand shovels as well as a back hoe, excavator and vacuum truck while search dogs sniffed for clues to the whereabouts of Moore's body. The search site was located near the Discovery Trail and just north of SR-500 and east of St. Johns Boulevard.

"We have reason to believe that last summer, into the fall he was digging in a location behind us here," Patrick Kennedy, with the Vancouver Police Dept said, while standing at the search scene. "Based on some of the evidence seen at the scene and testiminy from the family, it looks like there may have been a cave."

Police said while there has never been any report of treasure hidden in that area, yet family members told them that Moore thought there was.

"He was very adament, he was very prolific, he has an extensive tunnel system up here it wasn't something he just started," Kennedy explained.

kgw.com

James Moore as shown in a photo from police.

People who frequent the Discovery Trail said they remembered seeing Moore there and back in January, cadaver dogs actually flagged the area as well.

“Moore suffers from mental health issues and in the past has been known to dig very deep tunnels looking for treasure,” added detective Kim Kapp with the Vancouver Police Department.

Wednesday, crews who had dug down about eight feet and said they found cement blocks and boards that they believe Moore used to secure his tunnels. Yet, at least one of his tunnels had definately collapsed.

(KGW reporter Keely Chalmers also contributed to this article.)