A grieving father has issued a public plea in the hopes it might elicit a few leads in the death of his son, Korey Kauffman.

Kauffman’s remains were found Aug. 19 in the Stanislaus National Forest by a group of hunters. Kauffman had been missing for more than a year and was last seen in Turlock.

The sheriff’s department called the death “suspicious.”

In the letter released Friday, Kauffman’s father, who signed it “a grieving father,” details the anguish he has felt with the loss of his son.

“Not quite sure where to begin. My son Korey was a good kid. He had a kind and gentle soul, not an angel by any means, but a good person. Someone who a lot of people knew and loved. Korey was a giving individual who with question would help anyone in need. It’s very hard to accept his death. So senseless and the idea that a human life is less important than the possibility of a few scraps of metal! If this is the reason for his death, those individuals surely must not have kids of their own. I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone. Only those who've been through this can understand what it’s like to have your child’s life cut short over something so seemingly trivial. The knowledge of never seeing him again in this life is unbearable at times. I won’t be helping with his car, going fishing, taking him to the drag boat races or having him at the house for family gatherings. Most importantly, watch him have a family of his own. For the last almost 2 years we've been one family member short, so many things we as parents take for granted because we believe that our children will out live us. I’m so grateful to all that were involved in finding him."

Kauffman was last seen around 11 p.m. March 29, 2012, at a home in the 1300 block of Lander Avenue in Turlock. He said he was going to walk over to a home in the 800 block of Ninth Street. He disappeared on the walk over to the Ninth Street home.

Kauffman made his money by recycling scrap metal, some of which was obtained by illegal means. Sheriff’s investigators earlier stated his disappearance could be connected to the metal thefts.

The day before Kauffman disappeared he told people he had an argument with a man over money and that the man threatened to “cut him from ear to ear.” The man was questioned by investigators after Kauffman’s disappearance and cleared as a suspect.

Detectives are asking for anyone with information regarding the circumstances of Kauffman’s disappearance to come forward. Anyone with information can contact Detective Cory Brown of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Homicide Unit at 567-4485.