Police identify skeletal remains found behind apartment

ST. PETERSBURG -- The skeletal remains found by a group of children on Sunday belong to a 32-year-old man reported missing nearly three months earlier, according to St. Petersburg police.

The bones of James Jeffery Burnette of No. 217 350 74th Ave. N (pictured) were found in a wooded area north of Gandy Boulevard behind the Sienna Bay Apartments, 10501 Third St. N. Police also found a wallet with a Burnette's identification but did not confirm his identity until today.

Burnette was reported missing June 19, and the cause of his death is unknown. Police said there were no signs of trauma and no indications of violence at the scene.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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