DNA has confirmed that human remains found near a dry stream in Delta County earlier this month belong to Paige Birgfeld, a Grand Junction woman who went missing in June 2007.

Sgt. Matt Lewis said the DNA match last week was a formality because dental records all but confirmed the remains were those of 34-year-old Birgfeld, a mother of three young children who worked as an escort. Her charred car was found in a Grand Junction parking lot a few days after her disappearance.

Lewis said investigators are awaiting the results of tests by an forensic anthropologist this week or early next. The detailed study of the remains "could help our coroner determine a cause and manner of death, which at this point would be huge."

He said those results might not be made public, however, if releasing them would benefit whoever might be responsible for Birgfeld's death or otherwise jeopardize the investigation.

Frank Birgfeld of Centennial said the area around the dry creek bed where his daughter's remains were found March 7 had been searched thoroughly in 2007. Her checkbook and other items from her purse were found along U.S. 50 not far away after her disappearance.

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DNA confirms body found is Grand Junction mom missing since 2007