The human remains found at a west Phoenix construction site appear to be that of an infant, police said.

The revelation comes as an answer to questions as to whether the remains, which had been described as that of a child, were that of missing children Jhessye Shockley or Jesse Wilson.

Sgt. Vince Lewis, a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department, said the remains are “far too small to be a child older than 1 year,” effectively ruling out a possible match to 5-year-old Jhessye or 10-year-old Jesse.

The remains were uncovered at a construction site Tuesday afternoon as crews continued breaking ground on a residential subdivision headed by Copper Nail Development.

Lynden Bluth I, who is heading the project, said the on-site investigation has completed and should not delay construction of the 51-lot subdivision, which is set to be completed around November.

Area residents expressed a common desire to grieve and honor the unidentified child. Neighbors left stuffed animals and candles on the fence surrounding the dirt lot.

It could take weeks to identify the human remains, Lewis said, because they appear to have “been there for some time.”

Jhessye was 5-years-old when she was reported missing by her mother, Jerice Hunter, in October 2011. Hunter told police thegirl went missing from the Glendale home they shared, but police believed Hunter stuffed the girl’s body into a suitcase and dumped it in a Tempe garbage bin.

Hunter was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder and related child-abuse charges in Jhessye’s disappearance. The child’s body still has not been found.

In July 2016, police ramped up search efforts after 10-year-old Jesse Wilson was reported missing from his home in Buckeye by his mother, Crystal Wilson. Wilson contends her son had snuck out of the house before, but not for an extended period. He still has not been found.

READ MORE:

Missing Arizona children: 4 Phoenix teens added in 2015

Buckeye’s Jesse Wilson just 1 of many Arizona children reported missing

Jhessye Shockley case: Timeline of events

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