Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon has confirmed the identity on the human remains found yesterday in Springfield.
Springfield Police officers responded to a call at a home being renovated in the 2100 block of South Grand Avenue East yesterday morning. According to an update from Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, the homeowners said they had found a purse with personal documents inside with the name “Michelle Bianco” in a crawlspace under the house. Springfield officers then contacted the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office to begin further investigation. Due to the location, the Illinois State Police were brought in for further forensic processing. Just after noon yesterday, skeletal remains were discovered.
Bianco had been missing since April 5, 2008 and was officially reported missing 3 days later.
Allmon says the remains were scientifically identified, but the official cause and manner of death is still pending additional studies.
The death remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office and the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office.