Detective Roy Rooks of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said he received notice from the university last week.
He said the university took DNA from Harrell’s bones and compared the sample with DNA from other family members.
The test results close the investigation into the matter, said Rooks, although the cause of death has yet to be determined.
An anthropological study of Harrell’s remains done at East Carolina University showed foul play was not a factor and there were no signs his death was self inflicted.
The anthropological study showed the time of death is consistent with the time Harrell, 38, was reported missing, which was January 26, 2010. He was last seen on December 11, 2009.
Harrell’s son filed the missing person report but didn’t do so until January because, as a construction worker, it wasn’t unusual for him to be gone for extended periods.
Harrell, according to state Department of Correction records, was listed as an absconder from probation and parole. His past criminal record includes charges of assault on a female and assault and battery.
The remains were found October 22 after a woman who was walking her dog on Montfort Street reported the animal brought bones from the woods which were possibly human.
The sheriff’s office confirmed the bones were human remains and after a search located the rest of the remains.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and a special team from East Carolina University came and assisted in processing the scene.
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