Almost nine months have passed since Virginia Ratliff, 83,disappeared seemingly into thin air, and Brookhaven police continueto hunt for clues.

“We’re still where we were,” said Assistant Police Chief NolanJones.

Jones said no new leads had been turned up recently, but thatthe case has never been far from his mind or those of others in hisdepartment.

Jones said he has been in contact with Pike County authoritiesabout the discovery of human bones in a wooded area of Pike CountyFriday afternoon.

“I spoke to the detective that is working on the case, and hetold me they’re taking the remains to the lab to be tested,” hesaid.

The Ratliff investigation has been frustrating for officials,who have often said the case remains top priority until there is abreak in the case. And yet with nothing to go on, it’s hard forsome of them not to take the case personally after searching for solong.

“I keep her tag number on my dashboard,” Police Chief PapHenderson said early in the investigation. “But I never knew howmany white Mercuries there are in Lincoln County before now.”

Ratliff hadn’t driven for at least a year but went home togather some of her husband’s belongings and is believed to havebeen on her way to see him at the VA hospital in Jackson in lateFebruary. Jones said when Ratliff left her house she had aboutthree-quarters of a tank of gasoline in her white 1999 MercuryGrand Marquis bearing the Lincoln County tag 987-LIH.

Questions were raised when another missing person, Frank Damicoof Jackson, went missing April 6 after leaving the VA hospital.

His body was later found in Holmes County with a gunshot wound.Authorities had seen images on a hospital security tape that ledthem to believe his disappearance was foul play.

Jones said hospital officials were enlisted within 48 hours ofher disappearance to look through security tapes to see if Ratliffhad actually made it to the VA Hospital to begin with.

“We contacted hospital security and they said they checked it atthat time,” Jones said, adding that nothing was found on the tapesto indicate that Ratliff had gotten there.

The Down East Emergency Medicine Institute of Bangor, Maine,sent a team to fly over the search area and take digital imageswhich were sent back to the lab for analysis. DEEMI officials wereunable to turn over any evidence of Ratliff’s whereabouts.

Meanwhile, police officials said they refuse to give up on theidea of finding Ratliff.

“We’re still hoping for the best,” said Henderson.

A $5,000 reward posted for information leading to finding themissing Brookhaven woman still stands, untouched.

“And we’re still following every lead we can get,” saidJones.

Anyone with information on Virginia Ratliff’s disappearance orwhereabouts is asked to call the Brookhaven Police Department at(601) 833-2424 or Lincoln County Crimestoppers at (601)823-0150.