Remains of Jacob Wetterling, boy abducted in 1989, found in Minnesota

(WITI) -- The remains of Jacob Wetterling, a Minnesota boy abducted from a rural road 27 years ago, have been found, the Stearns County Sheriff's Office said Saturday.

“The Ramsey County Medical Examiner and a forensic odontologist identified the remains as Wetterling's earlier today,” a news release said.

The release didn't say whether anybody has been charged. The sheriff's office said investigators will evaluate new evidence and “expect to be in a position to provide more detailed information early next week.”

The abduction of the 11-year-old boy led to the 1994 Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act, which requires states to maintain sex offender registries and guidelines.

Child pornography suspect Danny James Heinrich, who was questioned in the Wetterling case, gave information that led authorities to the remains, said CNN affiliate WCCO and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, quoting unnamed sources.

Jacob disappeared on a dark road in central Minnesota on the night of October 22, 1989.

Jacob had been at home with his two younger siblings, Trevor, 10, and Carmen, 8, and Jacob's friend Aaron Larsen, 11, while Patty and Jerry Wetterling attended a dinner party about 20 minutes away.

Wetterling, who lived in rural St. Joseph, his brother and a friend were coming home from a convenience store on bikes and a scooter when a man wearing a stocking mask and holding a gun approached.

The man asked the boys their ages, grabbed Jacob and told the others to run into the woods or else he'd shoot, Jacob's father has said, recounting what his other son told police.

As news of the disappearance spread, FBI agents and National Guard troops descended on St. Joseph to aid in the search.

Tens of thousands of tips surfaced in the weeks that followed, but none led to an arrest or, until now, discovery of the boy's remains.

In October 2015, authorities announced a development: Heinrich, 52, was questioned in the abduction.

Investigators interviewed Heinrich about Jacob's disappearance, according to Andrew M. Luger, the US attorney for Minnesota. Heinrich denied involvement, authorities said.

At that time, no charges were filed in the Wetterling case. Heinrich has not been named a suspect in the case.