A Manchester resident missing since September 23, 2007 has been found, but under tragic circumstances.

An engineering crew found the skull and remains of William Schmidbauer in the heavily overgrown-swampy-wooded area along a stream A.K.A. 'Ridgeway Branch' on Tuesday located off Ridgeway Boulevard in Manchester.

The Manchester Police Department's Investigation Bureau, along with detectives from both the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and the Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit responded to the scene.

They were able to confirm that the remains were in fact, human.

Investigators combed through the area looking for clues after just the skull was found.

Based on the condition of the remains, police believe that the bones had been exposed to the weather and environment for an extended period of time.

Personal items found just underneath the surface of the ground such as his wallet with several pieces of identification, a pocket knife and a wrist watch helped investigators I-D the human bones which was confirmed by the Ocean County Medical Examiners Office.

Schmidbauer was reported missing from his Robin Street home in the Cedar Glen West section of the township in 2007 by his wife.

The search for him by Manchester Police and other law enforcement agencies was most recently active last year with no results, until Tuesday

Investigators utilized resources from the local fire departments as well as trained search and rescue personnel, scuba divers and K-9 handlers to conduct extensive foot searches of the heavily wooded areas adjacent to the community which also featured the use of utilized police quads, off-road vehicles, kayaks, thermal imaging cameras, and tracking and cadaver dogs.

They even tried spreading the word through the neighborhoods and media outlets.

The matter in which Schmidbauer died is under investigation but police don't currently suspect foul play.

The remains will be further examined by a NJSP Forensic Anthropologist.

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