SARASOTA, Fla. – The mortal remains of a Florida teenager who disappeared after witnessing a murder committed a year and a half ago was found this weekend in a rural part of Manatee County, a announced the police.

Jabez Spann was 14 years old when he disappeared from Sarasota on September 4, 2017. A FBI poster for missing persons indicated that the teenager may have been witness to a crime and had been seen for the last time during a vigil for the victim.

His disappearance was reported to the authorities the next day, according to Sarasota police.

In a November 2017 press release issued by the Sarasota Police Department, detectives said they were investigating whether Spann's disappearance was related to Travis Combs' death in August 2017.

Asked on Tuesday about the possible link between Spann's death and Combs' death, Sarasota's deputy chief, Pat Robinson, said he "was not speculating."

Dental records have confirmed that the remains discovered by a worker Saturday in Manatee County, located about 23 km north of Sarasota, belong to Spann, Robinson said at a press conference Tuesday.

"It is not known how long these skeletal remains were kept on site or whether they were transported elsewhere," he said.

The police refused to say where, in Manatee County, the remains were found and opened an investigation to determine whether the teenager had died of natural causes or had been killed.

Until now, no deaths have been stopped, but Robinson said he believes that someone in the community has information about what happened to Spann.

"We know that members of our community know things they have not shared yet. Look inside you. we want to bring this family justice. We want to bring peace to this family, "he said.

"We will go back and, from beginning to end, we will start by going through our files to make sure that every track, every board has been followed and that everything has been treated to one hundred percent." We will handle this case up to the end. at the end, "said Robinson.

The Sarasota police declined to comment on the progress of the investigation into the murder of Combs.

Police said the investigation remained open and active. Anyone with information is asked to call Inspector Megan Buck or leave an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or using his website. right here.

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