Berkeley officer on leave after woman goes missing; unidentified remains found

HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- (KTVI) -- Unknown human remains found in Kinloch over the weekend are of particular interest to the mother of a missing Berkeley woman, Monica Sykes.

Regina Sykes says she'll continue to do searches and move forward in helping others who are also looking for their missing loved ones. She's still holding out hope that her daughter will be found alive.

It has been a traumatic three-month-long roller-coaster for the family since Monica Sykes, 25, went missing on October 28, 2016.

Texas Equusearch was called in last Saturday after an initial search by Berkeley Police to do a foot search in Kinloch with about 70 volunteers. They found the unidentified remains of a female in less than eight hours. Now, the family has to wait at least six weeks to find out if it's Monica. Until then they're talking to Berkeley's Mayor and other officials about how the case was handled.

"There were things that we talked about, regarding the police officer that knows Monica, and that was involved with her. We talked to them before and said we were concerned about it. It and wasn't taken with urgency and concern that it should've been," said Regina Sykes.

No new searches have been scheduled, but the family is planning to do more in the coming days. The family is also thankful to everyone who helped in the search.

Berkeley police tell FOX 2 that an officer who we are not naming has been placed on administrative leave until the investigation into the Sykes case is complete. He's been with the department for six months.

FULL STORY: Berkeley officer on leave after woman goes missing; unidentified remains found - KTVI

Crime Watch Daily brought you the story in January.

Regina Sykes, Monica's mother, is also taking to social media to get the word out, setting up a Facebook page.

And until she hears otherwise, she's holding out hope her daughter is still alive, somewhere, and will soon come back home to the family that misses her so much.

Monica Sykes is described as standing 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 100 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.