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Medical Examiner joins effort to identify human remains found in Northwest Jacksonville

As the investigation continues, one woman spoke to First Coast News about the struggle of not knowing the fate of a missing loved one.

The Medical Examiner's Office told First Coast News on Monday they will examine the remains found near a home on the Northwest side.

As the investigation continues, one woman spoke to First Coast News about the struggle of not knowing the fate of a missing loved one.

"You hope it never happens to anyone because it's the worst torture you could go through," said Margaret Rowan, describing the pain of waiting for a missing loved one to return home.

She says the wait for a loved one to come home, or for their body to be found, can be agonizing.

At least 27 families in Jacksonville are still searching for a missing loved one, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement database search.

Some thought it could be their loved one when learning that human remains were found in Northwest Jacksonville on Thursday night.

The Medical Examiner's office joined the search to find out what happened to the remains and who it could be. That all could take some time.

Rowan says that she’s waited over 18 years to learn what happened to her son. She does not believe the remains found belong to him, but she hopes it could bring closure to a family with a missing child.

"When you hear that a body has been found, your heart skips a beat," she said.

Rowan still holds close the memories of her son John Rowan.

Rowan says her son was abducted outside his home in February 2001.

She doesn't believe her son is alive.

"He was one of six children, and every single one of them, and both my husband and I have suffered a lot of stress that's still going on," Rowan said.

Rowan's heart went out to her friends searching for a missing person after learning about the remains. 

It's difficult for her to think that the remains could belong to anyone.

The difficulty in processing a crime scene like this can be just as hard.

Michael LaForte has processed thousands of crime scenes in the 30 plus years he worked with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

"Was the body stabbed or shot? You're going to have to do excavation or search of the ground, do some sifting, you don't know if the body was shot in place or killed someplace else and dumped here," LaForte said.

LaForte says crime scene technicians have to find all the bones they can to possibly identify the person and to find out what happened to them.

Rowan's wait to learn what happened to her son continues.

It's a long wait that Rowan does not wish on anyone else.

"You live in hope, every day you hope, live and pray there will be news of your missing loved one," Rowan said.

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