Pocono News Section

Human Remains Found in Luzerne County

Human Remains Found in Luzerne County - Sunday, April 4, 2010 at 04:03AM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Sunday April 04 2010
HUNLOCK TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY -- State police say they've found skeletal remains in a rural part of Luzerne County. The investigation is just getting started but there are early indications the remains may provide some answers into the mysterious disappearance of two women.

Investigators say the skeletal remains were found late Friday afternoon in a wooded area on Roaring Brook Drive in Hunlock Township. That's between Shickshinny and Sweet Valley. The I-Team has learned at least one human skull was found but there may be more than one body in that area.

Investigators are now trying to determine if the remains belong to two missing women from that area. 22-year-old Phylicia Thomas disappeared in February of 2004. Her friend, 18-year-old Jen Barzlikso, vanished two years earlier. Both lived in the Sweet Valley area of Luzerne County.

The families of both have been searching and holding prayer vigils, trying to keep the cases in public view. The I-Team has done numerous stories over the years, the most recent in February when we featured it as a cold case.

Eyewitness News spoke to Phylicia Thomas' mother Pauline Bailey on Saturday. She told us she got a call from state police asking about dental records for her daughter. She just wants peace of mind. "We knew she was out there. It doesn't feel any better. It's going to make me feel better when the guilty people are all in jail for this before they hurt another family. We loved her so much," said Bailey.

The I-Team has confirmed that an autopsy has been scheduled and a forensic anthropologist will be called in. They are experts in identifying human remains that have been exposed to the elements for a long period of time.

Of course we'll continue to follow this developing story.