Sheriff Says Bones Found At Ohio Home Are Missing Woman’s

Police confirmed that Brooks has met missing 18-year-old Warren teen Alesha Bell, but have not determined if the remains are hers.

The Ashtabula County Sheriff has called a news conference for Thursday at 10 a.m.

Deputies arrested a resident of the house, 40-year-old James Brooks, on numerous drug charges and abuse of a corpse.

Although authorities are calling the case a homicide, Lancaster says it may take a long time to determine what caused Alesha’s death, and admitted that sometimes a cause of death may be ruled as undetermined.

The warrant related to drug activity, but investigators were also aware that Brooks had been seen with Bell in recent months. “She was going to stay with me and her son and watch movies. We firmly believe it. Someone has her and won’t let her come home”.

Brooks remains jailed on $700,000 bond while a grand jury considers evidence in the case.

Ashtabula County Prosecutor Nicholas Iarocci told reporters on Wednesday, “This is beyond all sensibilities when you find bones at a crime scene”.

Knepper provided her own DNA to enable authorities to determine whether the bones belonged to her daughter.

Wilder’s daughter, 22-year-old Jasmaine Smith, has been missing since June 5, the day of her sister’s high school graduation. Investigators said they acted on a tip from other law enforcement and located human remains in an outdoor fire pit. Smith’s mother told WFMJ.com that she is concerned because her daughter knew Brooks.

Anyone with information about Smith’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Mercer County Department of Public Safety at 724-662-6110.