A man whose skeletal remains were believed to have been found Friday was last seen on December 11-2009 according to the detective who originally investigated the case.

Detective Roy Rooks of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday Jerry Dale Harrell, 38, wasn’t reported missing until January 26.

Rooks said Harrell’s son filed the report but didn’t do so until January because it wasn’t unusual for him to be gone for extended periods. “He did construction work. From time to time he would be gone for one to two months.”

Rooks declined to elaborate further on the case.

Harrell, according to state Department of Correction records, is listed as an absconder from probation and parole. His past criminal record includes charges of assault on a female and assault and battery.

The sheriff’s office does not believe foul play was involved, said Detective Tyree Davis.

The remains were found 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 Investigations and a special team from East Carolina University came and assisted in processing the scene.DNA collected from the bones and Harrell’s family will help to confirm the identity, Davis said.