HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County commissioners have approved the expenditure of $2,300 for DNA testing to assist with identifying the human skeletal remains found Dec. 10 about 1.5 miles north of the North Eighth Street Bridge in Juniata.

Blair County Coroner Ray Benton said Thursday that since the remains were found by a hunter along Rose Yard Road in southern Antis Township, he has worked with state police at Hollidaysburg and Altoona police to collect information about the likely identity.

“Based on the collaboration work that we’ve put together, we’re pretty confident of who we think this may be,” Benton said.

The DNA testing of the remains and comparisons with the testing of likely relatives in Boise, Idaho, are expected to generate what Benton referred to as the final piece in the identification process.

Commissioners Dave Kessling, Amy Webster and Laura Burke approved Benton’s request to proceed with DNA testing, based on the $2,300 quote submitted by Guardian Forensic Services.

When the remains surfaced in December, Benton said he didn’t believe the death was suspicious but would involve state police in identifying a cause of death.

Details released in December indicated that the man was about 6 feet tall, had short brown or red hair, a medium build and was between 40 and 60 years old. The remains also revealed that he had surgically repaired fractures to his right lower leg and left forearm.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.