Human bones found in a wooded area of Northwest Roanoke have been determined to be those of a 26-year-old woman who went missing last year.

DNA tests recently identified the remains as those of Daftney Natasha Phillips.

Authorities have yet to determine how Phillips died. But her death is considered suspicious because of her age and the place where her remains were found, according to Roanoke police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson.

On Nov. 4, a person reported finding what appeared to be human bones in the 2100 block of Centre Avenue.

The spot where the remains were found is a wooded area near railroad tracks, close to an industrial area that residents said at the time was sometimes used as an illegal dump.

Phillips was reported missing Dec. 19, more than a month after the remains were found. The missing-person report was made to the Bedford County Sheriff's Office. Phillips' last known address was in Bedford County, Johnson said.

Johnson referred questions about the details of the missing-person report to Bedford County authorities, who could not be reached Monday.

Known as "Dee," Phillips grew up in Moneta and moved to Roanoke several years ago, according to neighbors who remembered her as a friendly and outgoing young woman.

"She was a good-hearted little girl ... and sweet, just as sweet as she could be," said Theresa Miller, who often baby-sat Phillips and her two brothers when they were growing up in a brick ranch house next to her home.

When Phillips moved to Roanoke several years ago, it was against the wishes of her mother, who wanted her to stay closer to home, Miller said.

"All I heard was that once in a blue moon, she would call her mom and say, 'Mom, don't worry, I'm OK,' " Miller said.

Phillips' family members declined to comment Monday.

Harriett Spangler, another neighbor, said Phillips had a daughter and two sons after moving to Roanoke and would sometimes bring her children with her when she visited her parents.

Spangler remembered Phillips as a polite girl who never got into trouble as a youngster. Phillips and her brothers "would always call me Ms. Harriett, out of respect because they were little," she said.

Phillips' remains were identified by the state forensic lab in Roanoke.

Roanoke police and the Bedford County Sheriff's Office are continuing to investigate the death. Anyone with information is asked to call city police at 853-5959 or the sheriff's office at 586-4800.

The last time Miller saw Phillips was about a year ago, during one of her visits back home.

Once again, Miller said, Phillips' mother tried to talk her into staying. "But she left," Miller said. " 'I'll be home later, Mom,' she said."