Human remains found in an east Birmingham wooded area in 2020 have been identified a woman who had been missing for 15 years.

Juanisha Latonya Wesley was last seen by her family on April 24, 2005, at the family’s home in Collegeville. Family reported her missing on May 5, 2005.

There were later reports of Wesley being seen in November 2005 at Kelly Ingram Park in the Civil Rights District and at the Motel 8 on First Avenue North in Woodlawn.

She was not seen or heard from after that.

On Dec. 21, 2020, someone surveying a densely wooded area near the intersection of Seventh Avenue South and Exeter Avenue in the Crestwood Green community found a human skull.

The following day, a recovery team from the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Officer returned to the scene to search the area but did not find any other remains.

Wesley was officially pronounced dead at 5:20 p.m. on Dec. 21, 2020.

She was identified through DNA analysis and comparison.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said the cause and manner of death is undetermined currently, pending additional anthropology and DNA studies.

The Birmingham Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.