The bones of Sierra Shields have been found but police don't know what killed her or why her disposition changed in the days before her disappearance.
The remains of a New York City-based flight attendant who abruptly quit her job and vanished were discovered this week, authorities have revealed.
The family of Sierra Shields have clung desperately to hope since the 30-year-old Shuttle America employee walked out of LaGuardia Airport in January, leaving her belongings behind.
Tragically, NYPD officials said Saturday that bones that washed up on Rikers Island on Wednesday or those of the missing woman.
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Corrections officers reportedly made the discovery on the coast of the island, which lies not far from the airport where Shields was last seen January 14.
Shields was scheduled to fly before she disappeared, but never made the flight.
Family said in the aftermath of her disappearance that Shields was behaving in a distressed manner that was out of character for her in the days prior.
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Family and friends started a Facebook page called "Find Sierra Fields" that was updated just one day before her remains were discovered.
"It's been 8 months that Sierra has been missing, 8 months since we've heard her laugh, seen her smile, been blessed by her love," in the post, which was written to celebrate a law regarding missing adults that was passed after Sheilds' disappearance.
The cause of Shields' death remains under investigation.
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