The remains of a Priest River woman missing since 2004 were found in a remote wooded area of Kootenai County in February 2016.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday that the remains of Christine Lott, reported missing from Bonner County on March 27, 2004 were discovered along a U.S. Forest Service Road near Coeur d’Alene.

“The news of her discovery was kept confidential until her husband could be located and interviewed by KCSO detectives,” said a news release issued Thursday by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators with the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office said in 2004 that Lott, a 33-year-old mother of three boys, was last seen on March 25 of that year getting into a pickup truck in front of a Priest River grocery store, Mitchell’s IGA. At that time, investigators reported that Steve Lott, Christine Lott’s husband of nine years, waited two days before calling police.

The couple reportedly argued the day Lott disappeared.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office will not release more detailed information regarding the area where the remains were found.

“... we will not be releasing any more information to protect the integrity of the investigation. That is why we were not more specific regarding the location,” said an email response from the sheriff’s office.

The case is being investigated as a homicide by the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office and Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone who may have had contact with the Lott Family in the 2004 time period, or who may have information regarding this incident, is strongly urged to contact Major Crimes Detective J. Northrup by leaving a message at (208) 446-2237 or emailing him directly at jnorthrup@kcgov.us