Investigators confirm remains found at Bragg are not human

The confirmation by the Army's Criminal Investigation Command in Quantico, Va., ends speculation that the bones could have belonged to missing Fort Bragg soldier Kelli Bordeaux. 

The remains were discovered in the Eastern Training Area on Tuesday evening after investigators searched for several hours following a tip about a body on the post.

The remains were moved to an Army forensic laboratory for identification, due to their condition. Officials could not immediately say whether the bones were human.

An investigator said in an email Wednesday morning that there was no indication the bones are human. Then about 1 p.m., investigators confirmed the remains were animal.

The discovery had sparked concerns about Fort Bragg soldier Kelli Bordeaux, who has been missing since April 14.

Fayetteville police, who are investigating the Bordeaux case, said early Wednesday they were aware of the remains and were waiting to see whether the bones would hold any clues to her disappearance.

Olivia Cox, Bordeaux's sister who lives in Georgia, had spoken with police overnight and was also waiting early Wednesday for definitive information. She said she continues to hold out hope that her sister will be found.

"It's hard to keep moving forward with no news," she said. "But we'll always hope. We'll have hope for as long as it takes to bring Kelli home."

Cox said she felt a moment of relief when she first heard about the discovery.

"For a moment, you think at least the agony and the not knowing will come to an end," she said. "I want Kelli. I don't want remains. I want her to come back, laughing and carrying on and being the Kellie we all loved and miss."

Investigators have not named any suspects in Bordeaux's case but have said they believe she left the Froggy Bottoms bar on Ramsey Street with Nicholas Holbert, a 25-year-old convicted sex offender, whom she met there a week earlier.

Holbert, who lived in a lean-to behind the bar, claims that he dropped her off at the entrance to the apartment complex where she lived with her husband, who was in Florida visiting family that weekend. Holbert says he had nothing to do with the disappearance but was recently arrested for failure to register as a sex offender.

Bordeaux was last seen wearing a pink tube top, black shorts and a pair of flip-flops that investigators have described as "bedazzled."

Police have set up a special hotline – 910-433-1114 – for tips in the case, and an $8,000 reward is being offered for information leading to her discovery.