Human remains found in hunt for missing children

Human remains have been found and a suspect has been taken into custody in the Bahamas - where the disappearance of five boys is being investigated.

The remains were found on Sunday in the Barbary Beach area of Grand Bahama, one of several islands. The remains were mostly skeletal and were spread out over the area, said Bahamas Police Superintendent. Hulan Hanna.

"We're optimistic this case is finally coming to a close," Mr Hanna said. "The parents of the boys have been contacted."

Police would not say whether the remains were from several bodies or even whether they were children.

Jake Grant, 12, Mackinson Colas, 11, and DeAngelo McKenzie, 13, went missing within 18 days of each other in May. Junior Reme, 11, disappeared on 30 June. The last to go missing, Desmond Rolle, 14, never made it home on 28 September from his job packing groceries at a supermarket.

All of the boys had worked as bag-packers at the Winn Dixie Supermarket in Freeport.

The man in custody, who is 35, has not yet been charged.