TRACADIE-SHEILA, N.B. - Human remains believed to be that of Hilary Bonnell, a 16-year-old girl whose disappearance gripped residents of a New Brunswick native community for two months, have been found, police said Friday.
Police announced they found the remains buried in a remote wooded location in the Tracadie-Sheila area, about an hour away from the Esgenoopetitj First Nation, more commonly known as Burnt Church, where Bonnell was last seen.
RCMP Insp. Roch Fortin said a suspect in her death is in custody, but no charges have been laid.
At a news conference, Fortin extended his sympathies to Bonnell's family, saying the past two months have been painful for them.
"They have been strong through this and patient," Fortin said.
"Some of the information they supplied contributed to help us find what happened to Hilary."
Fortin said evidence gathered last week during searches in Tabusintac and Burnt Church led police to the remote location.
"This investigation has been one of the most difficult and complicated that most senior investigators here have faced, and even the location where we recovered the human remains was difficult to reach," Fortin said, adding that an RCMP vehicle was damaged trying to navigate the difficult terrain.
Bonnell vanished on Sept. 5 after attending a house party the night before.
The girl's last confirmed sighting was recorded on surveillance footage that morning at a convenience store in the community.
Since then a major search was conducted and a combined reward of close to $18,000 was offered for information leading to her return.
The location where the remains were found is part of a former military training area.
Fortin said an autopsy would be conducted Saturday on the remains to confirm the identity, but he said other evidence gathered at the scene also suggested it was Bonnell.
Throughout the ordeal, Bonnell's mother Pamela Fillier has said that her daughter was not the type to run away, and that someone must have been responsible for her disappearance.
Fortin said that Fillier was a great benefit to the investigation with information and with spiritual support.
"A tobacco offering was given to us by the mother," he said Friday. "When she gave it to us, the same day, we got our major break in the investigation that allowed us to recover Hilary."
Fortin said there is still a lot of police work to complete, and would not suggest when charges might be laid.
"There is still some work to be done, but I think today the important part is the fact that Hilary has been found and has been brought home," he said.
