Brenda L. Jacobs has been missing since 2003. Philadelphia police may have found her remains

Human remains found by Philadelphia police may close a 16-year-old missing person case, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.

Jade Gillette Babcock, 49, of Philadelphia was arrested on charges of abuse of corpse, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence, according to a news release from the DA's office. He was arrested after a legless body was discovered inside a storage facility in northeast Philadelphia, PennLive.com reported.

Babcock is expected to be charged with homicide by the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office "based on evidence collected by the Pennsylvania State Police and on his confession to the murder of Brenda L. Jacobs, who has been missing since 2003 but was not reported missing by her family until 2013," the release said.

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Police located the remains, believed to be Jacobs, based on a tip from Babcock's current girlfriend. Jacobs wasa former girlfriend of Babcock, PennLive reported.

Babcock is being held without bail.

“I want to thank the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Assessment Unit led by Trooper Andrew Martin for their dedication to the goal of solving every homicide, and for their diligent work that appears likely to bring a resolution to a 16-year-old missing person case,” Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement.

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PennLive.com reported parts of two legs were found in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and added that Philadelphia District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Jane Roh and Lycoming County District Attorney Kenneth Osokow said the legs could be from Jacobs' body.

“When there is no swift resolution to an investigation, perpetrators do begin to believe that they can get away with murder," Krasner said.

"With the help of our State Police, that won’t be true for Jade Babcock. May those who have been missing and mourning Brenda Jacobs for years know some peace in the very near future.”

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brenda Jacobs: Ex-boyfriend arrested in 16-year-old missing person case