ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Bones found near a Central Florida subdivision could be those of a woman who was killed by her boyfriend nearly six years ago, deputies said.
Volusia County sheriff's investigators said the bones might be those of 31-year-old Mandy Ciehanoski, who disappeared in February 2011. Her ex-boyfriend, Michael Annicchiarico, pleaded no contest to her murder in 2014.
Annicchiarico was sentenced to life in prison.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that a jailhouse informant told investigators Annicchiarico used saws to cut up his girlfriend's body and buried it in the woods.
A man searching for his drone near the Flagler-Volusia county line stumbled upon a human skull on Nov. 23.
"She was so big-hearted. There's nothing she wouldn't do for anyone. For total strangers," said Debra Ciehanoski, Mandy's mom.
It's been five painful years for Ciehanoski.
A half decade after her daughter's death, she and her family may finally get a piece of closure.
"Of course it's going to be a great thing but at the same time it's going to be very painful because when I look at her urn I'm going to think about what he did to her," Ciehanoski said.
Debra told News 6 she can't remember what day she received the call about the found remains.
She said everything seemed to go blank after she was told the remains may be those of her daughter.
"I passed out. A lady helped me. I don't remember going through the checkout. I don't remember going to my car. I don't remember driving home," Ciehanoski said. "My head started spinning. I couldn't hear anything or see anything. It was just like the inside of my head was like spinning a hundred miles an hour".
In a week's time, Flagler County investigators have worked three different remains cases.
Officials said Hurricane Matthew could have something to do with it.
It could be a month until the remains in the different cases are identified.
In the meantime, emotions continue to get the best of Ciehanoski.
"Since I've found out, I have been in bed. I try to keep myself busy because if I sit too long it's just too much," Ciehanoski said.