The remains of a 52-year-old father and grandfather found in a makeshift grave in his son’s backyard have officially been identified.

Birmingham police announced Wednesday that the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office positively confirmed the remains as Donald Cash, who vanished on Sept. 26.

Cash’s son, 30-year-old Ledarius “Tre” Cash, was initially charged with abuse of a corpse. He is now charged with murder.

The elder Cash, who was the owner of Cash and Son Transport, was last seen working on his truck at his home on Knoxville Street in Wylam. His truck was found one week later in Pratt City.

The case was immediately assigned to a detective with the Birmingham Police Department’s Special Victims Unit, and investigators said they were extremely concerned about his well-being.

At about 5 p.m. Nov. 6, investigators from the Crimes Against Persons Division and the Tactical Operations Division carried out a search warrant on a residence in the 1400 Block of Brighton Road, which is Tre Cash’s home.

While conducting the search warrant, investigators saw what they believed to be a fresh pile of compost/topsoil in the backyard of the home. The area was made to look like a garden.

A cadaver dog was brought to the scene and alerted on the fresh compost pile.

Investigators used shovels to remove dirt from the pile and discovered what appeared to be skeletal remains.

On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and determined the skeletal remains were human. The coroner’s office took possession of the remains.

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office notified homicide detectives that the examination of the remains revealed the victim had been shot.

According to charging documents, Tre Cash “did knowingly and willfully abuse the corpse believed to be Donald Cash by burning and/or dismembering and/or improperly burying.”

He is also charged with receiving stolen property after he was found in possession of his father’s missing truck.

Tre Cash remains jailed.

At a vigil for Donald Cash on Nov. 26, he was remembered for his love of many things, especially his family.

“He was a family man. He made sure his kids and grandkids were taken care of,’’ his daughter said. “He looked out for everybody. He was always smiling.”

Cash also love drag racing and his dogs. Family said he had a great sense of humor and always made sure everyone had enough to eat and drink.

Antonietta Johnson was in a relationship with Cash for 26 years and they shared a son, who has since passed away.

“He was an awesome daddy. He was an awesome daddy. He was an awesome papa,’’ Johnson said.

“He always put his family first. He was a lovely person,’’ she said. “We’re truly, truly going to miss him.”