LAWRENCE, Mass. -- The body of Alex Jimenez, a Lawrence soldier who was kidnapped more than a year ago, has been found in Iraq.

Jimenez's father, Ramon, said he was notified by the Army Thursday that Iraqi authorities found his son's body two days ago.

The body was identified through dental records. Personal items were also found with the body.

"I know this is going to hurt all of us tomorrow when the news is out because we had been waiting for the day when he would return home," Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan told The Eagle Tribune. "I had so much hope that he was going to come home. And I know his mom and dad and wife and kids felt the same way."

Jimenez's mother Maria Duran lives in Queens, N.Y.

Sergeant Jimenez, 26, and two other soldiers were kidnapped in Iraq on May 12, 2007 after their unit was ambushed. Five other soldiers were shot and killed during the ambush.