Remains found in submerged car belong to mother missing since 2010, family says: 'We've got closure'

“Detectives located human remains inside the driver’s side of one of the vehicles,” according to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.

Remains found in a submerged car in New Jersey have been identified as belonging to a 52-year-old woman who disappeared nearly 14 years ago, her family says.

Bernadine Waters Gunner was last seen alive on July 11, 2010, wearing a black camisole and beige khaki capri pants, according to an archived Camden County Missing Persons page.

On Thursday, May 16, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release that three motor vehicles were found submerged in the Cooper River along North Park Drive, south of Kaighn Avenue in Pennsauken.

“Investigators found human remains inside the driver’s side space of one of the vehicles,” added the prosecution. “The identity of the individual is pending DNA testing.”

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Doug Bishop, a United Search Corps diver, told NJ.com that the vehicle's identification number matched Gunner's 2006 Hyundai. Clothing and about a dozen personal items belonging to him were also found inside the vehicle, according to the outlet.

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According to The New York DailyBishop's group used sonar technology to scan the river for submerged cars.

Bishop said officials from the Camden County District Attorney's Office met with Gunner's family, according to NJ.com.

Related: Human remains found nearly 3 decades ago identified as man who went missing after going for a walk

Although authorities said DNA testing would be needed to positively identify the remains, her family said they believed it was her.

“Thanks to Doug (United Search Corps) we have some closure,” her daughter Julia Young wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday, May 18. “Our family can now provide my mother with a proper funeral. Thank you ALL for your continued prayers and support, I appreciate it so much.”

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Young then emphasized how grateful she was for the bishop's help.

“It took one man to come here, dive into this water and discover my mother,” she added in her message. “We can’t thank him enough for what he’s done. Almost 14 years without answers and now we have them. »

PEOPLE has reached out to the Camden County Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office for additional comment.

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