WARREN, Mass. -- The discovery of a human bone Tuesday afternoon is the discovery investigators have been hoping for but one that the parents of missing lifeguard Molly Bish have been dreading.

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Investigators Make Disturbing Discovery In Bish Case

Newscenter 5's Gail Huff reported that on Tuesday morning John Bish, Bish's father, was in Warren greeting the searchers and thanking them for their efforts, but that was before they made their incredible discovery Tuesday afternoon of a bone belonging to a teenager

Magi Bish returned home last night from New York when she got the call late Tuesday that investigators had found a human bone. It turns out that investigators do not have a DNA sample they can use from Bish so a DNA sample form her mother must be used for comparison.

"It's an upper arm bone and Dr. Meyers does describe it as the bone of a person between 14 and 20 years of age," Worcester County District Attorney John Conte said on Tuesday.

It was discovered about 500ft from where the bathing suit was found nearly 3 weeks ago. Both items are in Virginia for testing but initial tests on the suit are mixed. More tests are being done.

Investigators hope for better luck with the bone but getting a reliable DNA sample may not be easy.

"It's pretty weather-worn so I would guess it's been there a while. I've seen the bone and it's actually pretty weather-worn, " Conte said.

Friends and family continue to stop by the Bish home to offer support.

"Now they know pretty certain that this is most likely Molly and Molly's dead and they're accommodating in that regard. This has been a 3 year struggle. They've been all over the world looking for Molly and to find out she never left Warren," said state Sen. Stephen Brewer.

The family has not spoken publicly since this latest discovery. There is also new information about that bathing suit -- it was bought at a store in the Holyoke Mall. They're trying to determine whether or not that is where Bish's parents bought the suit.

Searchers will be back in the woods on Wednesday, looking for new clues. The search area is about 25 acres and digging equipment may be brought in addition to a grid search.