Investigators are trying to determine if skeletal remains found in southwest Missouri are those of an eastern Missouri man missing since 2006.

The remains were found Tuesday in Taney County, near where Matthew Needham went missing. Needham, of Fredericktown, was last seen Aug. 10, 2006. He was running into a wooded area after the vehicle he was riding in was found burned.

The remains will be examined Thursday by a pathologist in Springfield, who will compare dental records.