NEW ORLEANS - Deborah Jones lives nine houses down from the home where 76-year-old Jean Stokes lived peacefully with her dog.
"Mrs. Stokes would mind her own business. When her little dog pooped on the lawn she picked it up and all. Just was a good person," Jones said.
Now police are looking for the person responsible for her death. The NOPD announced Wednesday that a DNA analysis confirmed that remains found in New Orleans East matched Stokes's DNA.
Stokes' family last heard from her October 11, 2017 after neighbors say they saw her at her home on the 4900 block of Good Drive.
Almost immediately, investigators suspected foul play when they found her car abandoned in some brush.
Her disappearance led to massive searches on foot and with search dogs, many organized by her family.
"I'm gonna exhaust every breath in my body to bring my Mama home," Stokes's daughter Darlene Veal said.
Stokes' daughter immediately cried out to the public, pleading to the world for any information.
"Jeez if anybody knows something...for the love of God...our family is ripped to shreds. It's killing us. We need to bring her home. We need to bring her home please," Veal said in November.
Too distraught to talk Wednesday, family spokesperson Austin Badon spoke on their behalf.
"When they got the phone call it hit them like a ton of bricks. They called me and they're obviously tears of sadness. But also some tears of relief," Badon said.
Relief is felt because the family could finally put her to rest. Now the search is on for who could have done this. This quiet tight-knit community is hoping that justice for their lovable and sweet neighbor comes quickly.
"I just pray that she was in peace and Lord reveal, just reveal. And God will," Jones said.
NOPD says this is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the NOPD Homicide Section at 504-653-5300 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 504-821-1111 or toll free at 1-877-903-7867.