An imprisoned convicted kidnapper has led Texas authorities for the second time in two months to human remains that could be linked to the disappearance of a young woman two decades ago.
Police said Tuesday that remains found in a Southeast Texas pasture potentially belong to Kelli Cox, a 20-year-old University of North Texas student who disappeared in July 1997.
"When we can't get answers, especially for a nice, young woman that just comes up missing, has a child, it's a personal thing. And it's kind of weighed heavy on us," said Shane Kizer, spokesman for the Denton Police Department.
They found the remains with the help of William Reece, a 56-year-old man already serving a 60-year sentence for kidnapping one woman. Identification is also pending on remains authorities found last month with Reece's help in the search for 17-year-old Jessica Cain, also missing since 1997.
Police in Denton investigating Cox's disappearance said in a statement Tuesday that Reece led investigators to the site where her remains were found.
"He's been a person of interest since early on in the investigation," explained Kizer. "You have to be able to substantiate those concerns that you had with that person."
According to Kizer, investigators had difficulty connecting people to Cox's disappearance in large part because they had never found her body. As of Tuesday afternoon, police could not confirm that the remains found were Cox, but they were "hopeful" that the discovery would close the case.
"That's a bittersweet situation because if it is, that means that she is dead," said Kizer. "But to be her family, you have to think from where they are. When you have someone who is missing you're still in that grieving process the whole time. And there's just a whole lot of questions."
Cox's mother, Jan Bynum, said a Denton police detective notified her of the discovery late Monday night.
"I am hoping and praying that we get answers," Bynum said. "It may not be the answers I want, but at least it doesn't leave me wondering."
If investigators identify the remains as Cox, Bynum said she will drive down to the search area.
"I feel like I would want to go down and see where Kelli has been all of these years and see where she has been resting," Bynum said. "I know she is with God, but where was she? I would want to see it."
Reece has been temporarily released from state prison into local custody to help with the search.
He directed investigators in person to the sites where they found both sets of remains.
Reece hasn't been charged in the disappearances of Cain or Cox, his attorney, Anthony Osso, said on Tuesday. Reece does face first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in Oklahoma for the slaying of 19-year-old Tiffany Johnston, who was abducted from a car wash northwest of Oklahoma City in 1997.
He was also previously named the prime suspect in the April 1997 abduction and killing of a 12-year-old girl in Friendswood near Houston but has not been charged.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Reece was sent to prison the next year for the May 1997 Houston-area abduction of Sandra Sapaugh, who told authorities Reece forced her at knifepoint into his truck after first feigning to help her with a flat tire. Sapaugh escaped after jumping from the truck.
Whether Reece has any information on other cases is unclear. Osso said authorities in other parts of Texas or elsewhere with similar cold cases might speak to Reece in the near future.
Asked why Reece decided to help authorities, Osso said his client realized he already faced decades more in prison and had a serious heart condition.
"He wants closure for the families involved," Osso said. "I think he's at peace with the fact that he's going to remain in prison, probably die in prison."
Cox's mother, Jan Bynum, told The Dallas Morning News that she was hopeful about the latest discovery of remains.
"I'm feeling like maybe we'll finally get answers, and I can finally know where my baby is," Bynum said.
NBC 5's Caroline Connolly, Chris Jose and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
