Investigators released little information as they examined the remains found Sunday in the Barbary Beach area of Grand Bahama Island
Police were trying to contact all of the boys’ relatives but said there was little else they could do until the remains were identified.
“We’re waiting for [the police] to come to us,” said Susan Rolle, an aunt of DeAngelo McKenzie, 13, who went missing in May.
McKenzie, along with Jake Grant, 12, and Mackinson Colas, 11, disappeared within 18 days of each other in May. Junior Reme, 11, vanished June 30. The last, Desmond Rolle, 14, never made it home Sept. 28 from his job packing groceries at a supermarket.
All of the boys had worked as bag-packers at the Winn-Dixie Supermarket in Freeport and played video games nearby.
“We’re optimistic that this case is finally coming to a close,” Bahamas Police Superintendent Hulan Hanna said Monday.
A 35-year-old man was detained before the remains were found.
Four minors were charged earlier this month with manslaughter in connection with Grant’s disappearance.
It did not appear the four were connected with the 35-year-old suspect, but police were still investigating, Hanna said.
Police in the Bahamas have been assisted by the FBI and British officers from Scotland Yard. A retired FBI profiler and a former Las Vegas homicide detective were also sent to help by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, based in Alexandria, Va.
There were 52 murders last year in the former British colony of 300,000, up 17 percent from 2001, police said. Abductions of children are rare.
By Dominic Duncombe, Associated Press
