Bones found in Phelps County identified

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Bones found last week in a wooded area near Rolla have been identified as a man who went missing nearly 26 years ago.

Phelps County Sheriff Michael Kirn said in a news release that the bones found March 3 were identified as Eugene Cerney, who was 56 when he went missing on June 10, 2000. Cerney had left his central Phelps County home on a bicycle, telling his family that he planned to ride to St. Robert.

A dental expert based in Cole Camp helped identify Cerney using dental records, Kirn said.

A bicycle was also found near Cerney's remains, the release states.