The grandfather of missing Georgia boy says the human remains that were found at a desert compound in New Mexico are those of his grandson, according to the Associated Press.
Local and state law enforcement officials confirmed earlier this week a child's remains were found on the compound, but have not officially released their identity.
Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, age 3, was allegedly abducted by his father last December from his Jonesboro home.
Five people, including the boy's father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, are facing multiple counts of child abuse after authorities raided the compound and found 11 children living with little food or water and no sanitation.
"The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) continues to work to identify the remains found at the Amalia complex near Taos," said Chief Medical Investigator Kurt Nolte on Thursday. "The remains are in a state of decomposition that has made identification very difficult. Investigators often try to compare remains to medical records, fingerprints, DNA or other identification materials.
"At this time, investigators are using all known methods to make an identification, but this will not be a quick process. If we must rely on DNA results, identification could take several weeks."
According to recently released court documents, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj is accused of instructing at least one of the 11 children found on the compound "in the use of an assault rifle in preparation for future school shootings."
Ibn Wahhaj was arrested Friday along with Lucas Morten of Atlanta when local and state law enforcement officials raided the compound. Also found living at the compound were three women and 11 children.
All five of the defendants have been charged with 11 counts of child abuse. They all appeared in court Wednesday and entered pleas of not guilty. (Story continues below gallery)
PHOTOS: New Mexico defendants appear in court
Interviews with some of the children indictate Abdul Ghani-Wahhaj died on the property and was buried there.
According to interviews conducted by Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe, at least two of the children saw Abdul, described by them as being in "poor health," on the property, and that the boy died there.
"Uncle Lucas," the interviews said, "washed the boy's body twice and buried him near a tunnel on the compound."
Hogrefe's affadavit said the body's washing is "consistent with Muslim beliefs" and that everyone living on the compound are Muslim.
Each of the women, Hogrefe's affadavit said, "were insistent they had been told by the males that they could not talk about Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj and would not."
The remains were found on the compound's inner portion on what would have been Abdul's fourth birthday.
All five adults have been charged with 11 counts of child abuse, with Morten and Ibn Wahhaj facing additional charges.
MORE COVERAGE OF THE NEW MEXICO ARRESTS
