Novi Lawyer: 'No Doubt About It,' Hoffa's Remains in Local Field

FBI officials began searching an area near Buell Road in Oakland Township on Monday, looking for the remains of former Teamsters leader James "Jimmy" Hoffa. 

The FBI is following a tip from 85-year-old Anthony Zerilli, a close confidant of Hoffa who claims to be one of the few remaining people with intimate knowledge of the events leading to Hoffa's mysterious July 1975 disappearance.

David Chasnick, the lawyer representing Zerilli from Novi law firm Chasnick and Terrasi, said Monday that Zerilli was thrilled the search was coming to fruition.

"(Zerilli) is absolutely thrilled the Hoffa family may get peace from this," he said.

Chasnick said he firmly believed Hoffa's remains are in the field.

"Hoffa's body is in that field," he said. "No doubt about it."

Chasnick said there used to be a barn in the field with a concrete slab covering where he believes Hoffa is buried. He said the slab still is on the site, though the barn is no longer there.

Zerilli, who Chasnick said was in prison at the time of Hoffa's disappearance, hadn't yet addressed the media as of Monday afternoon.