LOS ANGELES -- A law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation says that when authorities found the Mercedes-Benz of a missing 20th Century Fox executive there was enough blood and body tissue to believe he'd been killed.

The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the case of Gavin Smith and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced early Thursday that remains discovered by hikers in a rural area of Palmdale on Oct. 26 were positively identified as those of Smith.

Smith was last seen on May 1, 2012. Months later, authorities found his car at a Simi Valley storage facility and said its condition indicated he was killed.

The official says tissue in the car included skin stuck to a seat.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

The remains of a 20th Century Fox executive who disappeared more than two years ago have been found in a rural desert area of Southern California, authorities said.

Lt. Larry Dietz of the Los Angeles County coroner's office confirmed early Thursday that the remains of Gavin Smith have been positively identified.

Smith, 57, was last seen May 1, 2012, in Ventura County's Oak Park neighbourhood after leaving a friend's home, and his disappearance has been investigated as a murder.

Hikers discovered the remains near Palmdale in the Antelope Valley on Oct. 26, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's office said in a statement.

Results of an autopsy have not been finalized. Sheriff's officials planned to discuss the case further during a news conference Thursday.

Authorities said earlier they had found his Mercedes-Benz at a Simi Valley storage facility, and its condition and witness statements led them to believe Smith was killed.

The storage facility was linked to John Creech, a man who was serving an eight-year prison sentence for sales or transport of narcotics, sheriff's Lt. Dave Dolson said last year. Creech was named a person of interest but has not been charged with Smith's murder.

Dolson said then that Smith had "some kind of relationship" with Creech's wife, Chandrika, after meeting her in rehab several years previously. Dolson declined to provide details.

Smith was with Fox's movie distribution department for nearly 18 years and was a branch manager for several theatres.