HARRISONBURG —Investigators identified the bones found recently in Catahoula Parish, solving one mystery but unraveling an even longer string of questions.

Forensic experts confirmed Tuesday that the remains are those of Las Vegas resident Lexis Kaye Roberts, who was 12.

But why and how Roberts ended up 1,558 miles from home in a heavily wooded portion of rural Louisiana is still unknown.

The girl was last seen traveling with her mother, Suellen Roberts, and a man, Thomas Sanders, who was not a relative near Arizona National Forest.

According to helpfindmychild.com and news reports from KTNV in Arizona, Sanders had a criminal record.

According to KTNV story published on Sept. 15, Suellen Roberts’ mother, Mary Woodburn, belives foul play is involved.

“It’s not like my daughter just to turn cold and leave and not call me in so many days,” she said. “I think maybe (Sanders) did something to my daughter and now my granddaughter.”

Roberts was identified through dental records by the LSU Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services Lab.

Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office Detective Toney Edwards said experts at FACES were searching online for missing people when they ran across a news flash.

“Once they noticed the girl in the video was similar to the remains found, they called the agency out there,”

he said. “They sent in the dental records and matched them to the girl.”

Edwards said Roberts was reported missing Sept. 5 and was last seen in a silver 2001 Kia Motors four-door sedan with the Nevada license plate 153UCR.

“We do not currently know where the mother and this guy are at the time,” he said. “We are in the process of locating the car and them.”

Edwards said the case is still an ongoing investigation, but Suellen Roberts and Sanders are definitely people of interest.

Suellen Roberts is a white female, age 31, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Sanders is a white male, age 53, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes.

Edwards said an evidence recovery team from the Federal Bureau of Investigations will be visiting the sight where the remains were found.

“They are going to be doing a scan over the area where the body was recovered to find more evidence,” he said. “This could help link her to somebody who may know more.”

Roberts remains were found by a hunter in the woods north of Harrisonburg Oct. 8.

Forensic experts estimate the bones had been in the woods anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Anyone with any information regarding the case is asked to call the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-744-5411.