Skeletal Remains Found in Springfield Home Identified as Woman Missing Since 2008

The skeletal remains found at a house in Springfield have been identified as those of a woman who went missing in 2008. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon stated that a post-mortem examination, including the expertise of a forensic pathologist and an anthropologist, confirmed the identity of the remains as belonging to Michelle Renee "Shelly" Bianco. The official cause and manner of death are yet to be determined, as confirmed by Allmon on Tuesday.

The discovery of Bianco's skeletal remains has turned the case into a death investigation. Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell mentioned that the investigators are actively pursuing leads and "interviewing anybody and everybody connected to the case." This shift in the status of the case was reported by The (Springfield) State Journal-Register. The skeletal remains were found at a house in Springfield shortly after the authorities were alerted about the discovery of "personal items" in a crawl space. These items included a purse with documents bearing Bianco’s name.

Michelle Renee "Shelly" Bianco was last seen on April 5, 2008, in the Springfield area. She was walking with her cousin when a man driving a black Pontiac offered her a ride home, as per the police report. The cousin confirmed that the man knew Bianco's name. A missing persons report was filed for Bianco three days after she disappeared. Had she survived, she would be 59 years old today.