Authorities in Colorado have confirmed the discovery of the remains of a woman who disappeared seven years ago.

The Denver Post reports that on September 10, a man stumbled upon a bone while going through belongings in a detached garage at a Lochbuie residence.

By the end of October, officials had verified that the bone belonged to Terri Ann Ackerman, aged 56, who went missing in August 2018. At the time, she was residing at the Polar Street property with her husband, Delbert “Dale” Ackerman.

Sean Ackerman, Terri’s stepson, was the one who discovered the bone and expressed his belief that his father wasn’t involved in her disappearance.

Following Terri’s disappearance, law enforcement conducted thorough searches of the Ackerman property and its surroundings, utilizing drones and search dogs, but unfortunately, they did not find her at that time.

“The biggest thing that doesn’t make sense to anybody is how cadaver dogs were out there three times and missed a body that was on the other side of a very thin piece of metal,” Sean said.

Sean said he made the discovery after his 70-year-old father died, and he inherited the property. He had been sorting through junk for mementos before placing the residence for sale.

So far, a cause of death has not been revealed.

Family members criticized search efforts over the years, claiming that the Lochbuie Police Department failed to provide answers.

”I get it,” her daughter, Ambyr Carolus, said in 2018, the Greeley Tribune reports. “People disappear. They leave, they come back. But to not come back for three months and there not be a trace of anything?”

Delbert Ackerman told police that he left the home while Terri was still in bed when he left for work that morning. When he returned home, he could not find her, but located her phone, wallet, and other personal items.

According to People Magazine, police said Terri had bipolar disorder and depression, and had been upset the night before she disappeared. Family members told police that she had been concerned over babysitting her grandchildren.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to help the family with funeral and memorial expenses.

Check back for updates.

[Feature Photo via GoFundMe]