Skeletal remains found in Springfield house confirmed to be those of woman missing since 2008

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Skeletal human remains discovered at a house in Springfield have now been confirmed to be the remains of Michelle Bianco, a woman who has been missing since 2008.

A cause of death has not yet been announced by the Sangamon County Coroner. 

Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell said deputies called to a house in the 2100 block of South Grand Avenue East on Sunday afternoon after the homeowner found property that may have belonged to Bianco.

A purse with personal documents containing the name "Michelle Bianco" was found in a crawlspace during a remodel, according to Sheriff Campbell.

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Bianco was last seen in this block, and Sheriff Campbell confirmed that the items did belong to Bianco. He could not say what they are or where they were found due to the investigation.

The Illinois State Police was contacted to help search the home and arrived Monday around 11:30 a.m. Investigators found human skeletal remains in the home.

An Anthropologist from the Illinois State Museum was requested to assist in identification of the remains. After determining that the bones were human, the coroner took custody of the remains.

The sheriff's office is working closely with the coroner's office, ISP, and the Sangamon County State's Attorney in this investigation.

Michelle Bianco was last seen and heard from on April 5, 2008.  Authorities said Bianco was at her cousin's home in the 2100 block of South Grand Avenue East.

She was reported missing by her boyfriend, who said he discovered her missing when he returned home from a trip on April 6, 2008.

Springfield police said officers had received information that Bianco was seen getting into a black Pontiac with a sunroof, driven by a white male with a small build, black hair over his ears, and an unshaven face, on the same night of her disappearance.  Authorities said the driver allegedly offered Michelle a ride home, which she willingly accepted.

There has been no activity on her bank account, and family members that she called up to ten times a day said they heard nothing from her since that night.

The Sangamon County Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate.

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