A Facebook page set up to bring attention to the cases of two missing local women is claiming that human remains found on the banks of the Eel near Ferndale in March have been identified as belonging to one of them – Danielle Bertolini, a 23-year-old Fortuna resident who went missing in February 2014.

“The skull found in eel river a couple months ago has been confirmed by DNA that it is my daughter Danielle,” reads a message posted earlier this afternoon in the Help Find Sheila Franks and Danielle Bertolini Facebook group, which was set up by members of the two women’s families. “REST IN PEACE SWEET ANGEL”

But the Sheriff’s Office is not ready to confirm the facts of the case. Deputy Sheriff-Coroner Trevor Enright told the Outpost earlier today that he is still waiting for an official report from the Department of Justice, which is testing the remains. “I cannot confirm that I have conclusive findings at this point,” Enright said, adding that he should have more information in a week.

The investigations of the Franks and Bertolini cases have been moving very slowly, but they have apparently been moving. In March, Fortuna Police Chief William Dobberstein told Dateline NBC that they believe the two disappearances to be related, and that a “person of interest” in both cases has been identified.

Facebook post from the Help Find Sheila Franks and Danielle Bertolini Facebook group below, followed by links to past Outpost coverage:

The skull found in eel river a couple months ago has been confirmed by DNA that it is my daughter Danielle.” REST IN PEACE SWEET ANGEL”

Posted by Help Find Sheila Franks and Danielle Bertolini on Wednesday, May 27, 2015

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