BROOKSVILLE — The case of the human remains found near Brookridge last week seemed to go like a textbook might suggest it should.

Investigators with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office and 5th District Medical Examiner's Office responded, investigated and collected the bones. The preliminary findings: 20-year-old Brian Adam Gilley, missing since January, committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree.

There was a problem, though. Investigators apparently left some of Gilley's bones at the scene.

Now authorities with both agencies are trying to figure out how it happened.

"It's unacceptable," Hernando Chief Deputy Michael Maurer said Wednesday. "It's just not the way we do business, and we want to know why it happened and make sure it never happens again."

Maurer said there was a breakdown in protocol between his agency and the Medical Examiner's Office.

"There's stopgaps and checks and balances, and what we don't understand yet is how that perfect storm came together and this happened," he said. "It defies logic for me."

He said he didn't know Wednesday if the bones — a hand and forearm — were missed during the initial investigation or were simply left behind.

But it doesn't seem plausible that they were missed, Maurer said, because they were found in the immediate vicinity of the rest of the remains.

Deputies initially responded to the area about 6:30 p.m. March 13 after a passerby discovered the remains in a low-lying stand of trees between a concrete retaining wall and the white privacy fence that lines the southern edge of Brookridge.

Forensics technicians investigated, and the medical examiner arrived about 9:30 p.m. and took the remains to establish the person's identity.

On Tuesday, a representative from a local news blog went to the scene, discovered the bones and called the Sheriff's Office. Investigators returned and collected them.

Making sure the remains were removed from a scene during the first visit is the responsibility of both agencies, Maurer said.

He spoke Wednesday with Dr. Barbara Wolf, medical examiner for the 5th District, who is conducting her own investigation.

Messages left by the Times at Wolf's office in Leesburg were not returned.

The Sheriff's Office internal inquiry could result in disciplinary action up to dismissal, Maurer said.

A Maryland native, Gilley moved in December to his stepfather Wayne Gilley's home in Brookridge.

Brian worked in the deli at the Walmart store on Cortez Boulevard. He was well liked and loved playing the acoustic guitar, Wayne Gilley said.

"I didn't see any signs he wasn't happy here," he said.

Then Brian disappeared, and Wayne Gilley found a suicide note. He filed a missing person report with the Sheriff's Office on Jan. 18, but feared the worst.

"I tried to prepare myself for the day they'd come to knock on the door, but you can't prepare yourself for that," he said.

Wayne Gilley said the news that some of Brian's remains were left behind upset him.

"But the worst part was knowing he's gone," he said.

Brian's remains will be cremated and laid to rest next week in Rising Sun, Md., a small town between the Chesapeake Bay and the Pennsylvania border.

Reach Tony Marrero at tmarrero@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1431. Follow @tmarrerotimes and @hernandotimes on Twitter.

'It's going to take time, logistically,' said Florida Atlantic University political science professor says

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Gas prices have been rising dramatically the last few weeks, frustrating drivers every time they fuel up.

So, when can drivers expect to see some relief from the record prices? Experts said our fuel frustration could be with us for months.

When gas prices hit $4 per gallon in 2008, they fell to $2.17 just three months later.

However, the world is a very different place now.

With an unpredictable war occurring in Ukraine, that means it's hard to predict when gas prices will return to some kind of normalcy.

WATCH: University of Miami Herbert Business School dean shares thoughts on gas prices

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"As long as there's uncertainty with respect to peace in the Ukraine, then there is going to be a continuation of tough measures against Russia," said John Quelch, dean of the University of Miami Herbert Business School.

In recent days, Quelch feared the war and the worldwide gas shortage could drive our prices up to $5 a gallon or more.

But he said a commitment to step up oil production here in the U.S. might ease fuel frustration.

"We have the option of higher price points of reactivating oil wells and oil fields that are not necessarily profitable at $3 a gallon, but can be profitable at $4 or$5 a gallon at the pump," Quelch said.

Experts said it takes three to four months for the oil production increase could begin the process of driving down prices below the $4 a gallon mark.

Oil industry experts said it takes about three to four months for oil-rich nations in the Middle East to get extra gas to local pumps. And those nations have not committed to increasing enough output to lower the price we pay.

"It's going to take time, logistically," said Florida Atlantic University political science professor Robert Rabil. "If OPEC increases more, it really can stabilize oil markets."

According to Rabil, gas prices could start falling close to pre-surge levels when the extra oil that the U.S. and allies hope to start producing can make it to the pumps.

Rabil, who specializes in international relations, said the world needs more than extra oil to drive prices down. It needs some semblance of peace.

"It's sometimes not only from where we get the oil here and there. It's mainly the disruption that could happen from a war," Rabil said.

In addition to avoiding disruptions from war, a price drop would depend on getting more gas to the world markets.

"They depend heavily on what the attitudes are of the principal oil-producing countries, other than the U.S. and Canada, when it comes to additional production," said John Quelch, dean of the University of Miami Herbert Business School.

"I hope by Labor Day, things will be fine," Rabil said. "Still Russia could disrupt the flow of energy in the world, and this might increase oil prices."

The U.S. and Europe will try to keep the flow of energy open in an effort to lower prices and even hold off the possibility of an economic recession.

So, will $4 a gallon be a reality through the summer and fall?

"Let me just say, as long as you see Ukraine at the top of the news every day on your television, it's likely that [high gas prices] will continue," Quelch said.

Yardeni Research finds that if gas prices stay above $4 a gallon for the rest of 2022, it will cost the average family $2,000.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Drivers are changing their behaviors, putting the car in park and hopping on board mass transit.

Companies like Brightline are already reporting an increase in ridership.

People like Stefan Dekock are hopping aboard Brightline instead of emptying their wallet to fill up the car with gas.

"Every day you wake up and people ask me, 'How's your day,' or 'What's up?' The gas prices are up," Dekock said.

He and his fiancée are heading to Miami for a week.

With gas prices soaring, they decided to take the train instead of renting a car."At the moment it's pretty much ridiculous. That's why I rather take the Brightline instead of going in a car traveling," Dekock said.

"People are looking for alternative modes of moving around that don't involve filling their gas tank once a week," Brightline President Patrick Goddard said.

Goddard said Brightline offers a $199 monthly unlimited pass, and fuel frustration is now increasing ridership.

"Sales on those [passes] in the last two weeks are up 250% over last month," Goddard said.

Brightline said weekly sales of the special passes were around 50 to 60. But this week they have already sold more than 150.

He said Brightline ridership is getting back to 2019 levels.

"With those kinds of numbers, you're not going to see any substantial difference in the amount of traffic we see on say I-95," said Eric Dumbaugh, an urban and regional planning professor at Florida Atlantic University.

He said South Florida transit systems have struggled to attract riders since business offices and people are spread out.

However, with gas prices driving people on board trains, there is a benefit.

"For a certain segment of the population, particularly the people that can afford those ticket prices, there's a real transportation advantage in terms of time," Dumbaugh said.

Brightline admits this may only be a temporary economic benefit, but Goddard hopes this exposes more people to the service and they continue to ride even after gas prices eventually go down.

"What we're focused on is demonstrating to people this is not you're grandmother's train," Goddard said.

So, as gas prices hang high, Dekock and his fiancee will take advantage of WiFi and leather seats aboard Brightline trains to beat traffic and save money.

"It's pretty much easier to go on Brightline," Dekock said.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Fuel frustration is growing in South Florida as gas prices soar to another record high.

The average cost for a gallon of regular gas in Florida is $4.40 on Thursday.

Unfortunately, Palm Beach County has the highest prices in Florida, averaging $4.53, nearly 13 cents higher that the state average.

We continue to set new records and AAA said so many factors happening at one time is causing this, and relief is likely still months away.

Overnight Thursday, new sticker shock at the gas pump as prices continue to climb.

"They're ridiculous is you ask me," said driver Justin Spikes.

Spikes is only putting $20 worth of gas in his pickup truck after the average price for a gallon of regular in Florida jumped to $4.40 Thursday.

"We have to all still go to work and make a living, so unfortunately we have to pay what they have at the gas pumps," Spikes said.

Gas in Florida is sitting just slightly under the national average.

AAA said the spike is being caused by a number of reasons, including the upcoming summer driving season increasing demand and global supply is tighter after the pandemic and Russia's invasion in Ukraine.

"We're exporting more fuel now because a lot of other countries are boycotting Russian fuel and they're looking to get their sources elsewhere," said Mark Jenkins with AAA.

AAA said the state average could likely reach $4.50 a gallon before trending lower, but there's so much uncertainty.

"The cost of gas prices are going up, but what about the wages?" Spikes said.

William Luther, an associate professor of economics at Florida Atlantic University, said wages have gone up over the last year, but not fast enough to keep up with inflation.

"Workers have to go to their employers and say, look, in real terms, you're paying me less than you were last year, so we have to renegotiate," Luther said.

In the meantime, drivers like Spikes are cutting back and consolidating errands.

"Things you need to do, do it on the way home, on your way home from work," Spikes said. "That's the way life is right now."

For the latest gas prices in our area, click here.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Experts say there's likely not a single drop of Russian gas in any of the cars we drive or at the pumps of the stations we fill up.

Sanctions on Russia, the effects of the pandemic and oil companies profiting contribute to gas prices that are close to Florida's record high in July 2008 of $4.08 per gallon.

"I would anticipate that we're going to exceed that record by the end of the week," said AAA Florida spokesman Mark Jenkins. "Maybe even tomorrow."

Jenkins said gas prices were low in the first months of the pandemic because demand was low as many people worked from home and travel plummeted.

Then the dynamic shifted.

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"Fast-forward to 2021, and all that demand comes roaring back," Jenkins said. "The vaccine is readily available, people are more confident traveling, their flying again. But a lot of the countries are still pumping out oil at the same rate."

Jenkins said it will take time for the U.S. and the other large oil producers to get up to pre-pandemic levels.

The gas in your tank came to South Florida from crude oil drilled in and off the coasts of the U.S. and Canada and sent to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

Russian gas has never been part of the mix here, but the war is affecting prices at the pump.

"With this Ukraine invasion, it's pushing up prices in Europe, said Florida Atlantic University Professor William Luther. "And we have to pay more at the pump here in order to prevent that oil from being shipped to Europe."

The baseline of oil prices is set on what is called the Global Futures Exchange.

Think of it as a speculative stock market for oil and gas where the market determines the cost of gas and where the gas goes.

"If the price of gasoline gets high enough in Europe, suddenly those Canadians starting thinking [that] maybe they should find a way to get the oil over there," Luther added.

Experts said a potential nuclear deal to ease sanctions against Iran will allow that Middle East nation to bring millions of barrels of oil into the worldwide system.

But in the short term, we may experience what we saw last week: Gas prices soaring 26 cents a gallon. It was the biggest weekly jump since AAA began tracking pump prices.