Remains in California are those of missing boys

Bones found at a Southern California desert gravesite are those of two boys whose parents also were buried there, coroner's officials confirmed Friday.

The remains are those of 4-year-old Gianni McStay and his 3-year-old brother, Joseph McStay, the coroner's division of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

A state DNA lab confirmed their identities, the department said.

Dental records earlier confirmed that other remains belonged to the boys' parents, Joseph McStay, 40, and Summer McStay, 43.

Joseph Mateo McStay

Authorities haven't said when or how they died.

The four vanished in February 2010 from their Fallbrook home in San Diego County, about 100 miles from the gravesite.

There were no signs of forced entry at the residence or in their SUV, which was found parked near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Neither Joseph nor Summer had told family or friends they were leaving. When they were reported missing, authorities went to the house and found eggs that had rotted on the kitchen counter and two pet dogs in the backyard, indicating the family hadn't prepared for an extended leave.

Nothing was missing from the home, and the couple's credit cards and tens of thousands of dollars in bank accounts never were touched.

Last week, an off-road motorcyclist discovered bones on the outskirts of Victorville, about an hour's drive northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

The site is not far off heavily traveled Interstate 15, which connects San Diego and Las Vegas.

Investigators excavated two shallow graves and found more remains. Some of the bones had been dragged to the surface by animals.

On Wednesday, family and friends erected four white crosses at the gravesite and marked them with the names of the family members. White doves also were released.

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