New York police have identified remains found in Chautauqua County as those of Yolanda Bindics - a mother of four who has been missing since 2004. »The Full Story
On August 10, 2004, 25-year-old Yolanda Bindics left work in Jamestown, New York -- and vanished.
Yolanda, a mother of four, was last seen sitting in her car, talking on her cellphone in the parking lot of the Family Dollar Store where she worked, after locking the shop up for the night. She told her brother, who was watching her four daughters - ages one, three, five and eight - that she was stopping on the way home to buy milk. The brother became concerned when he hadn't heard from her. The next day, August 11th, police discovered Yolanda's car two blocks from the Family Dollar store, at a local fast food restaurant.
About a week after Yolanda's disappearance, investigators said a Jamestown police officer was placed on administrative leave after admitting to having a relationship with Yolanda. The officer, whose name was not released, will remain on leave until investigators can determine the nature of that relationship.
Dozens of volunteers, family members and friends have searched parts of Jamestown to no avail. Police have labeled her disappearance suspicious, and are looking for any clues to her whereabouts.
Yolanda Bindics disappeared in August 2004, after leaving work at the Jamestown Family Dollar store. A day later, her car was found in the parking lot of a nearby fast-food restaurant and soon, her purse, wallet and keys turned up in a storm drain.
On September 10, 2006, two years after Yolanda's disappearance, hunters discovered human remains, which have now been identified as Yolanda Bindics. Police say the remains were identified through dental records, but cause of death has not been determined. Police are now looking at forensic evidence collected at the scene in hopes of identifying a suspect in the young woman's death.