Human remains yet to be identified

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Escambia County Sheriff's Deputies said remains found off a road in Cantonment may be human but are likely not related to a 11-year-old missing person case as they originally thought.
 
The discovery originally sparked a renewed interest in the search for Danielle Bell, a missing persons case from 2001.

"Due to the close proximity of where she went missing and where she's from, we really thought that it could be her. But after crime scene processing we truly don't believe that's who it is," said Deputy Matt Baxter with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said workers surveying the land found the remains off Well Line Road around 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Deputies secured the scene that night, Oct. 11, and investigators began processing. The remains were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy on Friday.

Old case, new interest

Authorities said Bell, who was 14 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen at a party on Cedar Tree Lane in Cantonment.

Witnesses said she left with a man in his mid-twenties. Investigators later searched his home but he was never charged in Bell’s disappearance.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said they "are fairly confident" that the remains are not those of the missing girl.

Danielle Bell's sister spoke with FOX10 News by phone Sunday evening. Bonnie Bell said while they have been told the remains are more than likely not Danielle's, the discovery has opened a door for them to put her story back in the public eye.

Baxter says it's disappointing not being able to give Bell's family closure, but they hold out hope.

"It helps us think that maybe she's alive out there somewhere. You just never know what's going to turn up with that case. It's been a long time," Baxter said.

Saturday, the family hung flyers in the area of Well Line Road where Danielle disappeared in 2001. They are hoping someone will come forward with new information, and bring the closure they've been looking for the past 11 years.

If you have any information on the remains, or Bell, contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433 – STOP.