The human remains found along a river bank in Queens last week have been positively identified as a missing autistic teenager's.
According to ABC News, the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that the remains found near the river were those of Avonte Oquendo.
The confirmation was made Tuesday through DNA testing, said Julie Bolcer, spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office.
USA Today notes that the office is doing more tests to determine the exact cause of death.
The autistic teen went missing on Oct. 4, after being seen on surveillance video running out of his school in the middle of the day. The school is located near the river.
Because of Oquendo’s severe autism and not being able to care for himself, massive search efforts were conducted to find the 14-year-old.
Oquendo’s family remained hopeful that the body parts found were not his, but that seemed bleak after pants and sneakers that matched what the boy was last seen wearing also washed ashore.