Days after human remains were found on a rural property near Leduc, RCMP have confirmed they are the remains of a woman who had been missing for more than 2 years.

Police said they confirmed a human skull found on the weekend was that of Amber Alyssa Tuccaro.

According to police, a group of recreational horseback riders came upon what appeared to be the remains on Saturday, September 1 – and immediately called Leduc RCMP.

Over the weekend, RCMP said the Edmonton Medical Examiner’s Office and RCMP Forensic Identification Services helped to confirm the identity of the remains using dental records.

Investigators with Project KARE consider the circumstances surrounding Tuccaro’s death to be suspicious – and officers are working on a ground search of the area where her remains were found.

The Project KARE investigation into Tuccaro’s disappearance continues.

The discovery was made days after RCMP released an audio recording of what investigators believed to be Tuccaro talking to a person of interest in the case.

“We know that the voice on the tape belongs to a man who was in Amber’s company after she was last seen, so identifying him is a critical piece in our investigation,”

RCMP Staff Sgt. Gerard MacNeil of KARE said in a press release on August 28. “We want the public to go online and listen to his voice.

“Our hope is that someone out there will recognize him and call us.”

At the time, investigators could not say how or when the recording was obtained – and said doing so would compromise their investigation.

RCMP said the discovery of the remains and the release of the audio recording were not related.

Amber Tuccaro is described as:

  • Aboriginal
  • 167 cm (5’6”) tall
  • Brown eyes

At the time of her disappearance, RCMP said she weighed 65 kg (144 lbs), had black hair with blond streaks and may have been wearing a purple “Bench” brand hoodie.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Project KARE at 1-800-412-KARE (5273) (Edmonton residents can also call Project KARE at 780-509-3356) or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).