Vermont State Police say human remains found in the woods by a hunter earlier this month are believed to belong to a fugitive sex offender who went missing over a decade ago.
On Oct. 2, state police said they received a report that a hunter who was tracking his hunting dogs had located some human remains in a wooded area off of Beard Road in Orange, Vermont.
State police responded to the scene and collected the remains and other items of interest. The remains were sent to the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington, where they were viewed and are scheduled to undergo further analysis.
At this time, police said there is no evidence of foul play.
Positive identification has not been made, but police said they believe the remains belong to Philip Jackman, a 21-year-old fugitive sex offender who went missing in the fall of 2004. His vehicle was eventualy found located abandoned on Beard Road and information was received that he might have been suicidal and evading his capture.
The U.S. Marshals Service has been searching for Jackman ever since. State police said his status as a Vermont fugitive will remain in effect at least until the remains have been positively identified.
