WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say investigators have found no evidence that a conservative Muslim friend of Tamerlan Tsarnaev had any connection to the Boston Marathon bombing.

Tsarnaev is one of two suspects in the bombing. He died in a shootout with police.

Family members have said he grew up religiously apathetic but hardened his Islamic views in 2008 or 2009 under the influence of a Muslim convert, known to the family as Misha.

Two U.S. officials close to the investigation say the FBI has identified an individual believed to be Misha. The officials would not say whether the FBI has spoken to him but say they've found no ties to the attack or terrorism in general.