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Skeletal remains of missing woman found

The disappearance of a Philadelphia woman has turned into a new mystery after family members learned this week that some of the woman's remains were found at the Jersey Shore during the summer.

JFOOT27. State Police Seek Help Identifying Human Remains Ocean City, N.J. – Detectives from the New Jersey State Police Major Crime Unit are seeking the public's assistance in identifying human remains found at Corson’s Inlet State Park. Yesterday, at approximately 1:00 p.m., a man fishing on the beach discovered a sneaker with skeletal remains inside of it. The Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the remains are a right foot, inside a black Adidas ADI Rise 2 high top sneaker, size 5 ½. Some of the toes have colored nail polish, but the gender and age are unknown. The remains will be sent to the State Anthropologist for examination and DNA testing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Major Crime Unit at (609)561-1800 ext: 3355.
JFOOT27. State Police Seek Help Identifying Human Remains Ocean City, N.J. – Detectives from the New Jersey State Police Major Crime Unit are seeking the public's assistance in identifying human remains found at Corson’s Inlet State Park. Yesterday, at approximately 1:00 p.m., a man fishing on the beach discovered a sneaker with skeletal remains inside of it. The Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the remains are a right foot, inside a black Adidas ADI Rise 2 high top sneaker, size 5 ½. Some of the toes have colored nail polish, but the gender and age are unknown. The remains will be sent to the State Anthropologist for examination and DNA testing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Major Crime Unit at (609)561-1800 ext: 3355.Read more
    by By Barbara Boyer, Inquirer Staff Writer
    Published 

Franchesca Cheka Alvarado, 22, of the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia left home to go to Atlantic City with a friend March 17, 2012, St. Patrick's Day.

The friend later told family members the two went their separate ways, and he returned to Philadelphia alone, authorities said. At the time, Alvarado had a 3-year-old son, and she was planning to take college courses.

On March 23, Avarado's family reported her missing, said Officer Christine O'Brien, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia Police Department on Thursday.

This week, relatives posted on Facebook that they learned that skeletal remains found inside a black Adidas sneaker this summer belong to Alvarado.

"It is with deep sadness, pain and heartache that we inform you . . . the loss of our Beloved Sister Franchesca Milagros Alvarado," read a Facebook posting with a portrait of Alvarado outlined with images of sunshine and clouds.

"It has been confirmed from the state of New Jersey that the DNA match is our sister," said the Facebook posting.

The most recent updates followed memories that described "Cheka" as a Phillies fan who once played high school softball. She loved purple, was lefthanded, and had the "loudest laugh," wrote one friend.

A family member, in a brief telephone interview, said they learned of the connection between the disappearance and the remains earlier this week. There are still many unanswered questions, she said.

"We ask that you please keep us in your prayers as we grieve, but also thank God for our answer regardless of the circumstance," a family member wrote on Facebook.

Sgt. Adam Grossman, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police, said authorities here are waiting for a final DNA comparison to identify the remains. Over the summer, authorities posted a picture of a sneaker that a relative of Alvarado said looked like one her sister owned.

On Aug. 6, New Jersey State Police reported that a man fishing on the beach at Corson's Inlet State Park found a a black Adidas ADI Rise 2 high-top sneaker, size 5 ½ with the skeletal remains of a right foot. The remains showed that some of the toes had been painted with nail polish.

Aside from the foot inside the sneaker, no other remains have been found, and there is no cause of death.

"At this point, it is an active death investigation," Grossman said.

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