The body of missing Scot Emma Fauld was in south west Scotland.
Detectives zoned in on an area of Galloway Forest Park near the tiny village of Glentrool which sits at the Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway border.
The area where the grim discovery was made is also close to the A714 road which formed a major part of searches for Emma .
Police have spent weeks examining areas along the route which stretches from Ayrshire into Dumfries and Galloway.
The exact location where Emma was found has not been revealed by police but it is understood to be in a remote wooded area near to Glentrool - an area popular with mountain bikers and tourists.
It is also at centre of a zone which was being searched by a private plane carrying out surveillance to help with search for Emma.
The Galloway Forest Park covers around 100 square miles of south west Scotland and is popular with walkers and stargazers attracted to the dark skies in the park.
A police spokeswoman said: "On Wednesday June 12, human remains were discovered in the Galloway Forest area.
"The family of Emma Faulds has been made aware and police inquiries are ongoing."
Last month a man appeared in court charged with the murder of Ms Faulds.
Ross Willox was also charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice on May 10 before returning to Ayr Sheriff Court a week later for a second hearing.
The 40-year-old from Ayrshire made no plea and was remanded in custody.
