NEW ORLEANS -- In the water and marsh near the 3500 block Ridgeway Boulevard in late October, Kayackers made a gruesome discovery, a human skull.
"That was the only part of the body that was found," Jean Stokes family spokesperson said.
The NOPD say the skull belonged to 76-year-old Jean Stokes, a New Orleans East resident and mother who had been missing since Oct. 11, 2017.
"Unfortunately because there's a lot of water out there, you have animals and it seems like the skull was removed from the body and probably discarded by other animals," Badon said.
The New Orleans Police Department confirmed with our partners at The New Orleans Advocate Friday that the skull had been found around the Boat Launch at Irish Bayou Oct. 25, just one day after Stokes' car was discovered abandoned in some brush on Dwyer Boulevard and A Street.
"That skull did have some soft tissue on it and it showed evidence of traumatic injury, namely gunshot wounds," Badon said.
Austin Badon, a former State lawmaker and family friend helped organize searches after her disappearance. Loved ones marched on foot and search teams brought out their dogs. Now, Badon says their grief is unbearable.
"They've been going through hell for the last 6 months, not hearing from their mom or their loved one. Not knowing where she is. For someone to just kill this innocent lady who didn't do anything to anybody, just was trying to live a normal life. That's what angers me so much," Badon said.
Badon says after the skull was found, the family provided investigators with personal items which contained Stokes's hair and DNA. This week, police announced a DNA match was made, ruling her death a homicide.
As the family continues to grieve, Badon's asking anyone with information to come forward so they can finally feel a sense of justice.
"You owe this lady a dignified answer and you owe this family the right to know what happened to their mother and why it happened to their mother," Badon said.
Badon says he is considering forming another search party to come to the area to look for the rest of Stokes's remains. He says he knows it's a stretch, but it's the least he can do to put Stokes to rest properly.
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.