Authorities in Juab County, Utah say a skull found there nearly two decades ago is that of a Reno boy killed by his parents in 1994.

The DNA has been linked to the then 4-year-old boy, Rene Romero. The Juab County Sheriff's Office says the boys remains were found back in 1996 but they were listed as an unidentified missing person until Wednesday. 

Shortly after the murder, the boy's mother and step-father, Ana Romero and Alvaro Ortiz moved to southern California, with their other two children.

The deputy district attorney at the time, Dave Stanton, told Channel 2 the abuse continued.

"From what was listed in the affidavit, as well as the investigation, it looks pretty clear that the physical abuse of all the children, to include the deceased child, Rene, was chronic, was systematic, and was extreme," said Stanton in 1995.

He went on to tell us in ’95 that extreme abuse of the other two children, one in particular, was what caused police to arrest Ortiz and Romero. He told a Channel 2 reporter in 1995, that one of the children's penis had been pulled off, forcibly.

Reno Police told us in 1995 that southern California investigators called them, and gave them evidence that there was much more than abuse.

"Down in California, they only had two children. And because we knew there were 3 children here, we opened up an investigation. And again, without being able to go into specific details of that investigation, we have now arrived to the conclusion that in fact, they had murdered that child." said Lt. Phil Galeoto of the Reno Police Department in 1995.

They were later convicted of his murder. Ortiz is reported to be serving a life sentence in prison, without the possibility of parole, and Romero has since been released from prison and is on parole.

The Juab County Sheriff's Office say investigators were able to link the DNA to the boy from recent samples. Deputies say the match was positive from a family reference match from his mother. 

Until Wednesday though, investigators were led to believe the young boy's body was never found.

"Skull, some long bones, some hair and through the DNA analysis of those items, that's where the match came up and where we got a positive ID on Rene's body," said Lt. William Rulla, with the Reno Police Department. 

The Juab County Sheriff's Office in Utah says the boys remains were found back in 1996 in Juab Lake. They were listed as an unidentified missing person until Wednesday. However, evidence like bloody clothing at the time of the investigation led to the conviction of the child's parents back in the 90's. 

When investigators talked with the two brothers of Rene back when he went missing, they knew something was wrong.

"The little boy tells us that Mr. Ortiz and their mom had taken Rene to the hospital and that something happened with him. And they never saw their brother again," said Rulla. 

While the manner of death was never determined, police say this brings to light the issue of child abuse.

"Especially with children, if you get that inkling, you know, it doesn't hurt to place a phone call and have some of us come out and knock on a door and check," said Rulla. 

Police hope the family of Rene can give a proper goodbye now that his remains have been brought back to Reno. 

We're in the process currently in the last year at least, working with the brother of Rene who is an adult now. Trying to get those remains back to him," said Rulla. 

Police say no additional charges will be filed against the parents.