Update: Speicher has previously been described by his family as “a true leader, a devout Christian and a role model.”  He was a father to a then-3 and 1 year old, and also a Sunday School teacher at his Lake Shore United Methodist church in Jacksonville, FL.  His widow subsequently married another fighter pilot and friend of Scott Speicher.  Speicher has also been promoted twice since his shootdown, and is now a Captain (USN).

US Navy Lt Cmdr Michael Scott “Spike” Speicher, an F/A-18 pilot, was shot down over Iraq on 17 January 1991, during Operation Desert Storm.

Various news outlets have covered the US military’s announcement that Speicher’s remains have been recovered, following leads from local Iraqis.  All indications are that he was buried near his aircraft crash location, leading to the conclusion that he was killed when he was shot down.

After uncertainty over his status was raised, his condition was changed from Killed in Action to Missing-Captured.  He was the only American unaccounted for in the conflict.  The Iraqis inability, or unwillingness, to help account for Speicher’s status was even mentioned during the run-up to the 2003 invasion.  For example, the New York Times indicates that while the crash location was known, there was no evidence of a pilot:

In December 1995, the United States, working through the International Committee of the Red Cross, was able to send a team to the crash site to investigate. They found no ejection seat and no signs of a body or bones.