More Bones Found in Bish Search Area

PALMER, Mass. -- More human bones were found Wednesday in the area where an arm bone and bathing suit were found near where Molly Bish disappeared three years ago.

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"We obtained a bone which is the left inside of the arm. Also, the radius bone, which is the outside of the left arm, (was found Wednesday). These findings were very consistent with the findings of yesterday. Theses bones were found about 250-feet from the bones that we retrieved yesterday. We also recovered a tibia bone -- the shin bone," District Attorney John Conte said.

An upper arm bone, believed to be from a person 14 to 20 years old, was found Tuesday just 500 feet away from where a bathing suit, matching the one worn by Molly when she disappeared, was found.

"We believe that these bones were dragged from the point of origin. The bones are in fairly decent condition to get DNA testing," Conte said.

Conte said that other material was recovered in the area. Forensic experts verified that the bones appeared to from the same person, and officials said that it appears more and more likely that they are Molly's remains. The age of the bones, their distance to the bathing suit and the location of the items found make the findings more powerful circumstantial evidence, officials said.

"We do not know if the bones are Molly's. We know that they are consistent with the bones of a teenager," Conte said.

Meanwhile, Molly's parents fought back tears and spoke out Wednesday as they wait for DNA test results.

"We continue to remain hopeful for Molly and pray for strength and courage. Recent developments have been a shock for us. We have tried to prepare for this, but there has been no way to do so," Molly's father, John, said.

The area where the bones were found has been taped off and is secured as a crime scene. Only authorized law enforcement is allowed in.

"We continue to hope for Molly (and) her return. We know it may not be as we would all like it to be, however we do need to bring her home, and we do need to experience some peace," Molly's mother, Magi, said.

More than 100 searchers returned to the area Wednesday walking shoulder-to-shoulder and taking small steps. It is the largest team of searchers since the 16-year-old first disappeared.

"They're trying to find anything that is out there. Human remains or anything like that that is what they are trying to find," one investigator said.

The bathing suit is believed to be the same suit that Molly's parents bought for her at Kleins All Sport Store at the Holyoke Mall. The suit and bone were sent to a Virginia lab for testing.

Initial results indicated that officials could not get a usable DNA sample from the bathing suit. Investigators hope for better luck with the bone found Tuesday 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.

The bones will be tested for two forms of DNA to help determine if it did come from Molly. The first form is nuclear DNA. It's found in the blood, tissue and bone cells of the living and the dead.

The second form of DNA is mitochondrial that is in the structures of cells that provide energy. Investigators say they will likely need that form of DNA along with a sample from Magi Bish to determine if the bone is, in fact, Bish's.