Federal agents began searching for the remains of former Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa on Wednesday at a rural horse farm in Milford Township, according to an FBI official.
Agents will continue the search for the next couple weeks.
James Riddle Hoffa disappeared from a restaurant in Bloomfield Township in 1975 and was rumored to have been murdered and then deposited at an unknown location.
Before his disappearance, Hoffa was on his way to a meeting with New Jersey Teamsters boss Anthony Provenzano and Detroit Mafia Captain Anthony Giacalone. Investigators believe they might have killed Hoffa to prevent him from becoming the head of the union.
A law enforcement official in Washington said the search was the result of newly verified information. Federal officials, however, would not comment on what information they were given regarding the farm or the source.
Daniel Roberts, special agent in charge of the Detroit FBI field office, said this is the best lead he has come across in the Hoffa investigation.
"We do not leave any lead uncovered," Roberts said. "This is probably a fairly credible lead. You can gather that from the number of people out here."
The search began at 9 p.m. Wednesday and on Thursday construction equipment was brought in to aid in the search. Cadaver dogs also were used to comb over the property.
Officials said anthropologists and archaeologists from MSU were called in to help search efforts, including forensic anthropology professor Norman Sauer and assistant forensic anthropology professor Todd Fenton.
Sauer and Fenton are unable to comment at this time, but will return to the search site Friday.
David Kataja, a neighbor who lives near the farm, said officials have not kept local residents informed of what is going on. Most of what he knows comes from stories told by his mother and grandmother, CNN and the press conference held Thursday, he said.
"My mom told me that back then the old folks said, 'Never go down that road — mobsters are down there,'" he said.
Leonard Gilpatrick, owner of the Wixom Bar in downtown Wixom — located near the farm — said the recent Hoffa developments are some of the many that have been cropping up over the last 30 years.
"Local, state and county (officials) have been looking for years, and they never found anyone," the 68-year-old said. "He was a prominent man, the head of one of the largest unions, and disappeared, and no one knew (anything)."
Gilpatrick said the Teamsters met at the farm years ago and officials investigated the area when Hoffa disappeared. He said it would be "amazing" if they found anything.
Ken Nordstrom, another neighbor who lives down the road from the farm, said it is at least 20 to 30 acres and there are a couple barns, corrals and a house on the property. Roberts said one of those barns might be torn down during the search.
Nordstrom also said helicopters are constantly circling the area. Even though no one is permitted to go on the property, some helicopters showed footage of people digging on site.
Kataja said the rumor of Hoffa's remains has become a big attraction for everyone.
"Yeah, they might find something," Kataja said. "It'll definitely be a big part of history, especially after 30 years."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
