MILFORD TOWNSHIP -- Investigators now say they're treating a case of human remains found on a farm in Pike County as a homicide.
The discovery was made Sunday in the area where searchers were looking for a missing teenager.
A forensic team arrived on scene Monday at Foster Hill Farm near Milford to help try to identify the remains.
Troopers said the search for 17-year-old Leanna Walker continues, but for the time being is focused here.
The Pike County coroner followed by a forensic team from Mercyhurst University in western Pennsylvania arrived at the former llama farm near Milford, one day after search teams found human remains.
This is the same area where searchers have been looking for Walker, who went missing nearly one month ago.
“The case is certainly being investigated as a criminal homicide case, and we have to wait on the identity of the individual found, and we have to wait on an autopsy to determine cause of death,” said Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin.
Foster Hill Farm is where Walker's boyfriend, Sky McDonough, used to work. Troopers brought McDonough there late last month in order to show them where the two had been staying in the woods.
McDonough was considered a person of interest in Walker's disappearance. He ran and was caught. He’s now locked up on escape charges. His attorney says he has been cooperating with investigators.
“He knew she was with them. They ran away together. In regards to her disappearance, yes, he maintains his innocence at this point and says he did nothing to harm her,” said Ashley Zimmerman, McDonough's attorney.
Search crews found the remains Sunday. Investigators won't say if they belong to a male or female or in what condition they were found.
“I think that’s it’s really shocking and that like it’s so weird that it comes from such a quiet small town that something so horrible and disgusting can happen here,” said Ashely Kushner of Milford.
There are flyers all over the Milford area asking for help finding Leanna Walker. For now, Walker's friends and family must wait even longer to find out if the remains are hers.
“I’m pretty sure we went to the same high school and it’s just like sickening that it can happen that close to you,” Kushner continued.
There's no timetable on when investigators will be able to identify the human remains. Once they do, an autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.
“We’re still following up on any leads that come in and still searching areas that would lead me to believe she may be there. However right now, we are concentrating on this,” said State Trooper Connie Devens.
