Skeletal remains’ discovery brings fear, hope to other families of missing

When human bones are discovered in Central Florida — such as those found during the weekend in Sanford during a search for a Deltona mom and her two kids — families of the missing pay attention.

Are the remains of a man or a woman? How old was the person? Could this be my child?

A range of emotions — from anxiety to hope — set in. And then, they wait. “You don’t want to get your hopes up because it hurts too much when the answer is negative,” said Elizabeth Ocasio, whose daughter Tracy vanished in 2009 after leaving a bar with JamesHataway, whom she met a few weeks before.

Detectives later found Tracy Ocasio’s car near Hataway’s home in Ocoee. Police have said Hataway is the only suspect in the 27-year- old’s disappearance. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for the attempted murder of another woman.

Ocasio is one of several women missing in Central Florida in cases where authorities suspect foul play.

Jennifer Kesse disappeared from her condo near Mall at Millenia in 2006. Orlando police found her car about a mile away, and detectives have said they think the 24-year-old was abducted.

Michelle Parker, a mother of three, vanished in November 2011 after dropping off her young twins with her ex-fiancé, Dale Smith. Orlando police said Smith is the only suspect in the case, but he has not been charged in connection with Parker’s disappearance.

On Sunday, authorities found skeletal remains near State Road 417 and said they are those of an adult.

Sanford police spokeswoman Shannon Cordingly said it could be several days before detectives hear back from the Medical Examiner’s Office on whose remains they are.

Police do not think the remains belong to Deltona momYesseniaSuarez or her children — who detectives say are dead.

On Monday, Daytona Beach police reported that skeletal remains had been found near Clyde Morris Boulevard and Mason Avenue.

Police said the remains appear to be those of an adult male. The medical examiner will investigate cause of death, police said.

Last month, a woman’s skeleton was found in west Orange County by a road crew. The bones have not been identified, but authorities eventually determined the womanwas black, in her 20s and wore size 7.

Drew Kesse said he contacted the detective investigating his daughter Jennifer’s disappearance when he read about the discovery in Sanford.

“I simply wait,” Kesse said. “Oneof these times, it’s going to be Tracy. It’s going to be Jennifer. It has to be.”