By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO —The body of a former University of Montevallo student missing since March 2011 was positively identified on Monday, Jan. 4, according to the Montevallo Police Department.

Human remains were discovered on Dec. 22, 2015, in a wooded area between Salem Road and the University of Montevallo campus and a positive identification was made on Jan. 4.

Investigators identified the human remains as Robert “Bobby” Mitchell Hardin Jr., who was last seen around 9:30 a.m. on March 7, 2011, on Overland Road walking toward Alabama 119.

At the time Hardin was reported missing, Hardin’s mother, Sandra Brosemer, said Hardin had recently gone through a breakup with his girlfriend.

“He was very broken-hearted,” Brosemer said at the time.

Extensive searches in multiple areas were conducted throughout Montevallo at the time Hardin was reported missing, but none of the searches were successful.

“This has been a very long and difficult process for the friends and family of Mr. Hardin and we want to offer our condolences and prayers to them,” read a Jan. 4 Facebook post from the Montevallo Police Department. “There is no foul play suspected in this incident and the case has been closed.”

Hardin was 25 years old at the time he was reported missing.

The University of Montevallo also released a statement regarding the identification of Hardin.

“The University of Montevallo expresses our condolences to the family of our student, Robert Mitchell “Bobby” Hardin Jr. We are sad to learn the remains found in a wooded area off campus on Dec. 22 were positively identified as Bobby’s,” read the statement issued Jan. 4. “We know this has been a difficult time for Bobby’s family and friends since his disappearance on March 7, 2011. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this sad time.”

Hardin’s family has started a GoFundMe account to help with the cost of the funeral.

“It was unexpected to be planning a funeral for my brother at this time, so the cost of it has caught my parents off guard,” Amy Hardin Baker wrote on the fundraiser page. “Anything that can be given will be greatly appreciated.”

The GoFundMe account can be found at Gofundme.com/pghq8qj8.