Human remains found Tuesday by a contractor near Mentone, Alabama, are undergoing a forensic examination to determine whether they are those of a man from Rome, Georgia, who went missing four years ago.
The contractor was working on a home near Mentone where the body was discovered in a wooded area east of DeSoto State Park, near County Road 165, DeKalb County Sheriff's Office spokesman Tyler Pruett said in a news release. Authorities found additional remains later Tuesday afternoon, Pruett said.
"Early this morning [Wednesday], DeKalb County investigators were assisted in a thorough search of the area," Pruett said of a large, multi-agency search conducted after the discovery.
"After an examination of the remains, it's estimated they are several years old," Pruett said. "While official confirmation from medical examiners is pending, investigators believe they know the identity of the individual.
"The remains are believed to be a male subject from Rome, Georgia that went missing in the area during the summer of 2016," he said.
An update will be released when the identity is confirmed, he said.
"The remains were transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for examination," Pruett said.
He said agencies involved were the Center for Applied Forensics at Jacksonville State University, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Mentone and Fort Payne police, the Alabama departments of Game and Fish and Pardons & Paroles and area rescue squads and fire departments.
"We had about 40 officers out there from different agencies, and we combed the area really, really well," Pruett said Thursday. A positive identification of the remains is expected as soon as Thursday afternoon or Friday, he said.
"I'd like to thank all the agencies that came out to help in the search this morning. Their hard work will help bring a family closure," DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said in the release.
There was no word on whether foul play was suspected.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.