Bones said those of missing Romanovs

MOSCOW, June 24 (UPI) -- Bones found near the execution site of the Romanov family appear likely to be those of the heir to the Russian throne and his sister, authorities said Tuesday.

Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for the committee investigating the remains discovered in 2007 near Yekaterinburg, said the bones are those of a boy age 12 to 14 and a young woman in her late teens, RIA Novosti reported.

Markin said both DNA testing and historical and archaeological analysis made the identification of the bones as Alexei, the 13-year-old son of Czar Nicholas II, and Grand Duchess Maria, ITAR-TASS reported.

Nicholas, his wife Alexandra, their four daughters and son were imprisoned by the Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg, a remote village in the Urals. In 1918, the family and some of their servants were shot and buried secretly.

The remains of most of the family were found in 1991 and identified by DNA comparison. Prince Philip of Britain, descended from Alexandra's sister, contributed DNA for the match.

The committee expects to publish definitive results in July.