Remains of nursing student Michelle Le found; her 27-year-old friend is suspect

Authorities confirmed Monday night human remains discovered in a remote canyon in northe Califoia over the weekend are those of a missing nursing student who vanished in May.

Michelle Hoang Thi Le's remains were found by a volunteer searcher in Sunol Canyon, a rugged area off Interstate 680 east of the San Francisco Bay, authorities said.

The decomposed body was just 12 miles from the home of her suspected killer, Giselle Esteban, police said.

"Tonight, our family has been notified that this weekend, we have found Michelle," Le family spokeswoman Krystine Dinh said in a statement. "Please continue praying for and supporting Michelle as our family begins the jouey to ensure justice in her honor."

The 26-year-old disappeared May 27 after going to her car during a nursing class at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Hayward, a city east of Oakland.

Giselle Esteban, 27, is suspected of killing Le. (Hayward Police Dept.)

Esteban was arrested earlier this month for killing her one-time high school friend, police said.

The 27-year-old openly expressed her dislike for Le in a TV interview after police deemed her a person of interest following Le's disappearance.

Esteban told KGO 7 News she "openly hated Michelle," but denied killing her.

The two were friends for years, but Esteban and Le had a falling out recently over a boyfriend, police said.

Evidence including cell phone records and DNA found on Esteban's shoe led to her arrest, authorities said. She is being held without bail.