Gardaí were last night still keeping "an open mind" regarding the discovery of a body near Ballintra, Co Donegal.
Although a comprehensive forensic examination took place yesterday it could be some days before the body is formally identified.
Local people fear that the grim discovery, which was made by a garda on Thursday, may be the body of Mrs Dolores McCrea, a 35-year-old estranged mother of four who was last seen on Tuesday evening.
Supt Noel White said that while the skeletal remains found at Ballybuglin, Ballintra, were human, they are still treating the disappearance of Mrs McCrea as a "missing person's case".
He added that the discovery of the body is not being treated as a murder investigation.
He confirmed that there was evidence of an intense fire where the body was found and it is understood that this may have hindered the identification process.
Supt White issued an appeal to the public for information, and, in particular, a report that Mrs McCrea was seen getting into a silver car, possibly a Volkswagen Golf, on Tuesday evening near Bridgetown, Laghey.
Gardaí are also seeking information about Mrs McCrea's car, a red Peugeot 206, which was found near Ballybuglin.
Concern about the where-abouts of Mrs McCrea began on Tuesday evening when she failed to show up for a local darts competition. And when she did not turn up for work at a local bar in Laghey on Wednesday, a search began in earnest.
An Aer Corps helicopter was drafted in to help gardaí and locals on Thursday and during the afternoon a remote area at Ballybuglin was sealed off.
The State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, arrived at the scene along with members of the Garda technical bureau late on Thursday night and a preliminary examination of what gardaí initially termed "skeletal remains" got underway.
Yesterday more detailed forensic examinations continued on the site and a forensic scientist also attended.
Supt White was unable to say how long the forensic examinations would take. An incident room has been set up in Donegal town Garda station.
Anyone with information is asked to telephone 074 97 21106/ 23794 or the Garda confidential line 1800 666111.