Remains discovered in 2010 have been identified as 14-year-old Anastasia Hill
STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. (WXIA) -- Investigators have confirmed what a Henry County mother has feared for over a year now that skeletal remains have been positively identified as her 14-year-old child.
It's been nearly two years since Elisa Hill reported her daughter Anastasia missing. The family woke the morning of March 6, 2010, to find Anastasia's bedroom window open and the child gone.
Originally investigated as a runaway, Henry County police now consider Anastasia Hill's death a homicide.
"It's been very hard," said the teen's mother. "I've had long nights of crying because I just couldn't understand it."
Elisa Hill says she her daughter never called her after leaving home, yet the fretful mother believed the teenager would eventually return home.
On November 19, 2010, a hunter found skeletal remains in a wooded area near a creek off of Highway 138 in Stockbridge. At the time, investigators said it appeared the victim may have died from blunt force trauma.
Elisa Hill says a month later, investigators told her there was a positive DNA match between the remains and her daughter. She didn't believe it and asked for additional tests.
Those test results are now back confirming that 14-year-old Anastasia Hill was the victim of a homicide.
"She was a 14-year-old girl," said Anastasia's mother. "She didn't do anything to anyone. She had plans to go to college. She wanted to work. She had goals in life."
Henry County police say they are following some leads but have no suspects. They're urging anyone with information to come forward.
"I need answers," said Elisa Hill. "I have a 7-and-9-year-old, and I need to explain to them what happened. I won't have closure until then."
Anyone with information can call Henry County Police at 770-288-8200.