MARSHALL, N.C. - Hunters in the Pisgah National Forest stumbled upon a chilling discovery over the weekend when they came across human remains. The Madison County Sheriff's Office was immediately contacted, who then reached out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

On Sunday, FBI agents and deputies trekked to the location in the North Carolina mountains where the remains were found, beginning their investigation into the disturbing find. Identified as a rural area near Stackhouse Road, just northwest of Marshall, the site brought attention due to its proximity to Lonesome Mountain Road, a place associated with the case of missing 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari.

Madalina was last seen in November 2022, and her mother, Diana Cojocari, along with her stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, were previously arrested on charges of failing to report Madalina's disappearance. However, no direct charges related to causing harm to Madalina have been filed against either individual.

As news of the human remains being discovered near an area connected to the Cojocari case emerged, speculations started to circulate online. Seeking clarity, ABC affiliate WSOC reached out to the Cornelius Police Department, the agency leading the search for Madalina. A spokesperson from the police department revealed that while the identity of the uncovered remains had not yet been determined, initial indications suggest that they belong to an older man.

Authorities are now focused on conducting a thorough investigation to determine the identity of the remains and establish if there is any connection to the Cojocari case. The community remains on edge as they eagerly await further updates and hope for resolution in this unsettling mystery.

The FBI and local law enforcement agencies continue to call on anyone with potential information related to Madalina's disappearance or the newly discovered human remains to come forward and assist in unraveling the truth behind these perplexing circumstances.