DETROIT -- A body discovered in the River Raisin Thursday is believed to be that of 5-year-old Nevaeh Buchanan.

Nevaeh Buchanan was last seen May 24 in the parking lot of an apartment complex about 35 miles south-southwest of Detroit.

Monroe County Sheriff Tilman Crutchfield said the body recovered near River Raisin in Raisinville Township matches the age, size and sex of Nevaeh.

"We have reasonable suspicion that this is the body of Nevaeh," Crutchfield said at a news conference.

The Wayne County medical examiner's office is conducting an autopsy.

Investigators hope autopsy and toxicology test results will confirm a cause of death. There were no obvious signs of violence to the body, Crutchfield said.

Discovery Of A Body

Ryan Bickley, 15, told Local 4 that his father, Guy Bickley, 52, and grandfather, Lowell Kirk, were fishing on the river near Ida Maybee Road and spotted a block of poured cement and noticed a bad smell.

At first they said they didn't think much about it. After about two hours, Bickley said he kicked the concrete and noticed something.

"I literally sat on the rock and had my feet on the concrete block," said Guy Bickley. "I could smell something, but I figured it was a fish up the road."

Bickley said he chipped away a piece of the cement, revealing what appeared to be human skin and maggots.

"He called me, and he was hysterical," Ryan Bickley said. "He saw flies around it and that it was starting to crack, and when he bent down the smell got really bad."

Guy Bickley said he yelled out for his father and the two went up the hill to where the truck was located and called police.

"I've got two children," said Bickley as he choked up. "It's pure evil. It's not mean or psycho. It's just pure evil."

After composing himself, Bickley went on to say, "That poor little kid. It's terrible."

Complete Interview: Man Tells What Led To Finding Body

Crutchfield said investigators recovered a shirt similar to one Nevaeh was wearing at the time she was abducted.

Evidence Collected At River May Lead To Killer

Investigators returned to the steep river's edge Friday to look for more evidence.

The FBI said some type of cement was found on top of the body, which appeared to be buried in a shallow grave.

"It's a little more sophisticated than just dumping a body," said Andrew Arena, the lead FBI Investigator in the case.

A key piece of evidence collected at the site is a 90-pound bag of cement.

Only a few stores in the area sell 90-pound bags of cement. The Kuhlman Cement Company, which is located behind the home of the person of interest George Kennedy, sells 90-pound bags of cement.

Also, it appears that the fence outside the cement company was recently cut.

Doug Blause from the Monroe ACE Hardware said investigators asked him Friday if he sold 90-pound bags of cement, but his hardware store sells only 60-pound bags.

Investigators continue to look at surveillance images at other hardware stores in the area.

Investigators said they found a glove near the scene, but they have not said what importance it may have to the case.

The discovery site is about 7 miles from the Charlotte Arms Apartment, where Nevaeh's mother said she was outside playing with a friend when she disappeared.

Investigators are also hoping that the autopsy will give the child's time of death. They can then match calls made and alibis around the time of the child's death.

A Family Tries To Cope, Grieve

"I'm not giving up yet. I'm not giving up unless I see the body myself. I am not giving up hope yet, because I still feel that she is near me," said Nevaeh's grandmother, Sherry Buchanan.

Sherry Buchanan said the whole ordeal, especially dealing with the family of Nevaeh's father, Shane Hinojosa, has been very difficult on her.

"Hopefully down the road, I can prove I am on the right side of the road and can hold my head up high," she said.

When Local 4 asked her if she felt like she was a suspect, she said no, but that people are always pointing fingers.

Watch: Grandma Speaks Out After Discovery

The discovery also ends a "nerve-racking" chapter for the family, said Nevaeh's uncle, Michael Buchanan.

When the girl's mother, Jennifer Buchanan, was told about it "she broke down, and broke down hard," said Michael Buchanan, her brother.

"She couldn't believe her daughter had to go through this," he said, adding that if it is Nevaeh's body it provides "some type of closure, even if it is for the worst."

"Whoever is found guilty of this case, I hope and pray they get the maximum punishment possible, regardless of who it is," Jennifer Buchanan said. "I hope this person closes their eyes and sees my daughter's face."

Everyone outside watched in silence Thursday night as authorities led Nevaeh's family inside the apartment. A close family friend described what she heard.

"The screaming and the pain. Oh my God, it was just incredible," said Mary Millsaps.

A local pastor held a small memorial service for Nevaeh, bringing the crowd to prayers.

"We know Nevaeh is in heaven now. Nevaeh is in heaven with Jesus right now," said the Rev. Dale Hayford. "Beyond a shadow of a doubt, we know there is no pain right now, no sorrow, only joy."

Friends of Nevaeh also spoke tearfully.

"My son is a total tragic mess because of this. He has missed her every single day she has been gone, and now he is going to miss her for the rest of his life," said Aaron Baker. "This was my son's best friend and now she is gone."

"It could happen to anybody, and we hope it don't happen to anybody else," said Nevaeh's cousin, Shawn Lawson.

A makeshift memorial was set up at the base of a tree outside the Charlotte Arms apartments. Mourners have left flowers, stuffed animals and a Pocahontas book in honor of Nevaeh.

"That child didn't deserve that. If they wanted to take something out on one of us, they should have taken it out on one of us. She can't fight back. We can," said Nevaeh's aunt Diane Lawson.

Focus Shifts

The discovery of the body believed to be Nevaeh should allow investigators to focus on finding the person responsible, Crutchfield said.

There have been no arrests in the case.

"That person to our knowledge is still out there in the community. In my opinion it is a very sick or disturbed person we're looking for -- a person that is able to abduct and murder an innocent 5-year-old child," said Crutchfield.

Two men, Kennedy and Roy Lee Smith, both convicted sex offenders, were named people of interest in the case.

Police said Kennedy and the girl's mother have been dating. However, Jennifer Buchanan, said they were just friends.

Kennedy, 39, is being held on suspicion of parole violation. According to his parole, he is not to date a woman who has a child under the age of 17.

Kennedy told the Toledo Blade in an interview from jail that he had nothing to do with Nevaeh's disappearance and when he found out she was missing; he went to look for her.

"I didn't take her and I definitely didn't kill her," he said.

Preliminary DNA results on blood from a knife collected from Kennedy's vehicle failed to match Nevaeh's blood.

Click here to read the full article on Kennedy's jailhouse interview.

Smith is the owner of Kennedy's car.

Both men remain in custody.