VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Police believe they’ve identified the human remains found by a hiker last year in North Clark County.

The human skull and others bones were found along with some scraps of women’s clothing near the Yale Bridge on March 6, 2007.

Since then, investigators have been trying to figure out who it was and how she died.

The remains were examined by the Clark County Medical Examiner, Dr. Dennis Wickham, who confirmed they were that of a human female but he could not figure out the cause of death, due to deterioration.

“Doctor John Lundy, a local forensic anthropologist, also assisted on the case and determined that the victim was likely a Caucasian female in her late 50's or early 60's at the time of death,” explained Sgt. Scott Schanaker with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

She added that the most promising lead came from a tow truck operator who told police that he recalled towing an abandoned van from the Yale Bridge area several years earlier. The van was a 1999 Dodge Caravan that was towed from a "turnout" on the Clark County side of the bridge. Records showed the van belonged to Joan M. ROUX, 62, of Vancouver.

“She had not been heard from since the spring of 2004 when she gave notice and moved from her apartment,” Schanaker said.

Then, investigators tracked down Roux’s brother and son and used DNA from them to eventually confirm the human remains as hers.

“Based on additional details learned by investigators and the lack of any evidence of "foul play," the death of Joan Roux is not believed to have been due to criminal means,” Schanaker added.