NORTH COAST, Calif. – Human remains found two years ago near Willits have been identified as belonging to a missing Laytonville woman.
Mendocino County Sheriff's Capt. Greg Van Patten said the remains are those of 25-year-old Rachel Audrey Sloan.
On May 16, 2013, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office was notified of some possible human remains that were located burned in a secluded area on Highway 162 north of Willits, Van Patten said.
He said the remains were located and later examined by a forensic anthropologist, who determined that they were human.
DNA samples were recovered and a profile was uploaded into the California Department of Justice and National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Van Patten said.
Approximately two years later – this past May – family members of Sloan reported her as a missing person, according to Van Patten.
Van Patten said familial DNA samples were obtained from Sloan's family members and compared to the DNA profile from the found remains.
On Sept. 1, the Mendocino County Sheriff's received a DNA report from the California Department of Justice identifying the found remains as Sloan, Van Patten said.
He said Sloan was last seen by her family in Laytonville in August 2012.
Anybody with information on Sloan's death is encouraged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office tip line by calling 707-234-2100.
REGIONAL: Authorities identify human remains as those of missing Mendocino County woman
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