Vermont State Police are investigating after human remains were discovered Wednesday in the Orleans County town of Jay, following a missing-persons referral from federal authorities.

The remains were found late in the afternoon of Oct. 29 by members of the VSP Search and Rescue Team and North County Search Dogs. The area was secured, and detectives with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations collected evidence at the scene.

The remains were transported Thursday to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for autopsy and identification. Police have not yet released the name of the deceased or the cause of death.

State police said they became involved on Oct. 20 after the U.S. Border Patrol requested help with a case involving a migrant who went missing in northern Vermont in January 2025. The woman was reportedly attempting to cross into Canada when she became separated from her group.

Federal agents recently located personal items believed to belong to the missing woman in VSP’s patrol area, prompting the referral. The investigation is being conducted in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who are handling the Canadian side of the case.

Authorities have not released further details. Vermont State Police said updates will be provided as the investigation continues.