Deputies find 'unidentified human remains' in search for Lauren Cho

Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Deputies have found 'unidentified human remains' in a California desert after searching since late June for missing New Jersey woman Lauren Cho.

"Unidentified human remains were located in the rugged terrain of the open desert of Yucca Valley," on Saturday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said in an update on their search for Cho, a 30-year-old Asian American woman from New Jersey. The remains were transported to the coroner's division, which could take several weeks to identify them.

Cho was last seen when she walked away from a home where she was staying in the 8600 block of Benmar Trail in Yucca Valley at approximately 5:10 p.m. on June 28.

Cho was staying with friends, including her ex-boyfriend, at the home in Yucca Valley, about 30 miles north of Palm Springs, when she walked away, CNN reported.

She was "upset" and left behind her personal belongings, her friends said, according to SBSD. Her ex-boyfriend, who reported her missing about three hours after her disappearance, indicated she was suffering from mental distress.

Detectives and canines have searched the home and the sheriff's department has conducted an aerial search of the remote terrain near where she went missing.

Ongoing search efforts are planned as further leads develop, detectives said.