KHOU 11's sister station in DFW reports that the remains found in Brazoria County last week are confirmed to be that of Kelli Cox.
Cox, who was from North Texas, went missing in 1997.
The human remains were found at a dig site near Rosharon, according to the Texas Rangers. Searchers had been looking for Cox, a young mother from Denton.
The remains were sent to officials in North Texas for positive identification.
"I feel like maybe we are a step closer to getting answers, and I've said all along if she's gone I want to know," said Jan Bynum, Cox's mom said last week. "If this is Kelli and she's gone, I want this whole journey to bring some sort of good to someone."
A suspected serial killer named William Reece apparently told authorities where to dig and he has been spotted at the site.
Authorities say they are excavating a strip of land off Highway 288 South, approximately 700 yards long. They began using their hands and smaller tools after the remains were found.
It's been nearly four weeks since the remains of another person, possibly Jessica Cain, were found at a separate dig site on West Orem. The forensics information is still unavailable in that case.
RELATED STORY: Who is William Reece?
Reece told investigators they would find Cain's body at the West Orem site. The La Marque teen disappeared in 1997 after having dinner with friends. Her car was found abandoned on I-45 in Galveston County.
Reece is also the prime suspect in the 1997 disappearance of 12-year-old Laura Smither of Friendswood. She was jogging in her neighborhood when she was abducted. Smither's body was later found in Pasadena.
Reece was recently charged with the 1997 murder of Tiffany Johnson of Bethany, Oklahoma after DNA linked him to the case. She was murdered after being abducted from a car wash.
Reece is currently serving a life sentence for aggravated kidnapping. The Oklahoma native moved to Houston in 1996 after being released from prison for rape.
