CHARLESTON, Miss. — Possible human remains were discovered during renovations inside the Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Charleston, Mississippi.

The remains were found in late February during the renovation of an office used for evidence storage at one time.

Bobby Peterson owns Main Street Barber Shop in Charleston, a couple of blocks from the Tallahatchie County Courthouse where the discovery of human remains has become the talk of the town and raised many questions.

“I’m anxious to know who it is if it is human remains. And I’m anxious to find out how’d it get there and just the whole story,” said Peterson.

According to the Sun-Sentinel Newspaper, the remains were found in a second-floor room on the northwest corner of the courthouse.

Tallahatchie County Sheriff Jimmy Fly told the newspaper, “The remains were located in an area previously used to store evidence and court exhibits. The Sheriff’s Office has been working with multiple state and federal agencies to assist in determining the source of the remains.”

According to the Sun-Sentinel, the room had also once been the office of late Circuit Judge Andrew Baker and was being renovated for a storeroom when the remains were found.

The discovery immediately raised concerns for Anthony Williams, who says his cousin, Ashley Hankins, has been missing for over 29 years.

He’s anxious to know why the discovery was not revealed in late February when the bones were found.

“I just really want to know who bones they are. If they’re not my cousin’s bones, then just whose bones are they, and why are they in the courthouse in a judge’s chambers,” said Williams.

Sheriff Fly told the Sun-Sentinel that his office is investigating all past cases that could be linked to the remains.

The Tallahatchie County Coroner confirmed the remains will be sent to the Mississippi Forensics Lab in Pearl, but he could not say how long it will take to test the remains.

We tried repeatedly to reach the Tallahatchie County Sheriff for a comment but were unsuccessful.