Skeletal human remains were found Thursday afternoon in an area between U.S. Route 50 and SR 124 outside the Hillsboro corporation limits, according Highland County Coroner Dr. Jeff Beery.

A news release from the Highland County Sheriff’s Office said a call was received around 3:30 p.m. Thursday from a hunter who said he had discovered what appeared to be skeletal remains in a heavily wooded area.

Beery said the remains were those of a female, and they had been there a long time.

“I’d say more than a few months,” Beery said.

He said the remains were found on top of the ground and that they had not been buried.

Beery said that once DNA analysis is complete, he may be able to release the deceased’s name Tuesday or Wednesday.

After the HCSO received the call, detectives and deputies from the sheriff’s office were dispatched to the scene and located what appeared to be skeletal remains, which the release said would be taken to the Montgomery County Morgue to be processed for identification.

According to Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera, Beery and investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification were called to the scene.

Barrera said the case remains under investigation at this time.

Lanessa Roosa, a 21-year-old Hillsboro woman who has been missing since Jan. 1, 2019, was last seen allegedly running into a wooded area behind the Greystone Motel. That wooded area is between U.S. 50 and SR 124.

Roosa had been arrested in Greenfield the day before on warrants, was taken from the jail there to the Greenfield Area Medical Center due to medical issues, then reportedly walked out of the hospital and ended up at the Greystone Motel in Hillsboro.