By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

MENTONE, Ala. — According to a report by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, human remains were discovered last week near County Road 948 in Mentone. 

The remains were discovered on Tuesday, May 12 in a wooded area near the road by a contractor working on a home in the area. Additional remains were discovered by investigators with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office later that day. The bones were determined to be "several years old."

The man has now been identified as 26-year-old William Zachary Bishop of Rome, Ga., who was reported missing in July of 2016. The cause of death has not been released at this time.

The investigators were assisted in a search of the area by the following departments: Alabama Department of Game and Fish, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Alabama Department of Pardons & Paroles, Center for Applied Forensics at Jacksonville State University, DeKalb County Deputies, DeSoto Rescue Squad, Fischer Rescue Squad, Fort Payne Police Department, Mentone Police Department, and the Mentone Fire Department.

“I’d like to thank all the agencies that came out to help in the search,” said DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. “Their hard work will help bring a family closure.”