Police said today that dental records confirm the remains found Sunday in Mt. Forest, Ont., are those of Victoria 'Tori' Stafford but say they still aren't certain about the cause of death.

The remains were identified after a forensic examination at Toronto's Centre of Forensic Sciences, Oxford Community Police Chief Rod Freeman said in Woodstock today.

"It will bring some sense of relief to Tara McDonald and Rodney Stafford," he said at a news conference. "It also helps in bringing the case to court."

Tori disappeared on April 8 after leaving her school. The petite, light-haired 8-year-old was last seen walking away with an unidentified woman in a white coat.

She would have turned 9 last Wednesday.

Two Woodstock residents, Michael Rafferty, 28, and Terri-Lynne McClintic, 19, are charged with abduction and first-degree murder.

Their trials are expected to begin early next year.

OPP Insp. Bill Renton, who led the investigation team, said the cause of death is not yet known and that the forensic examination is still continuing.

No other charges are expected to be laid, he added.

Tori's parents were told about the identification last night.

OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino, who was also present for the news conference, called it a "very tragic situation."

Police found Tori's body in an area that had not been searched but was within the search grid. The remains, police said, were "consistent with being exposed to the elements for quite some time."

Talking about the complex nature of the investigation. Renton said a case like this is always difficult but "we can bring Tori home now and set ourselves the task of preparing for court."

Yesterday, Rodney Stafford said the grisly discovery brings some closure for his family. "It's not the outcome we wanted to find but it is a step forward," said Stafford.

Rebecca Nichols, Tori's aunt, said the family had always held out hope that the girl would return safely. "This is not the ending we were hoping for," Nichols said. "But we're not going to spend a lifetime wondering, looking in every car, in every back seat, through every window and wondering, `Is Victoria there?'"

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Investigators will be at the scene again today gathering evidence where Tori's body was found, near 6th Concession North in Arthur Township.

Police are still looking for the rear seat of a Honda Civic that Rafferty allegedly drove the day Tori went missing.