URBANA, Ohio (AP) Ñ Dental records and other factors make it a near certainty that skeletal remains found near a creek are those of two children missing since July 9, the Champaign County sheriff said Tuesday.

Sheriff David Deskins said he had not decided whether to use DNA testing Ñ which could take several weeks or months Ñ to positively identify the victims.

ÔÔWe feel fairly comfortable and confident that these are the children,ÕÕ Deskins said during a news conference. ÔÔThe only thing weÕre short on is scientific proof.ÕÕ

India Smith, 12, and her half brother, Cody, 5, were reported missing by their stepfather, Kevin Neal. He said he last saw them playing in the yard of the house where he lived with their mother, Sue Neal.

A man found the remains Saturday in his hayfield near Nettle Creek, three to four miles from the house.

Deskins said it is unlikely the children were abducted by a stranger.

ÔÔNow that we have these kinds of developments and based on everything that we know up to this point, the stranger-abduction scenario is greatly diminished,ÕÕ Deskins said.

The Montgomery County coronerÕs office said Monday that dental records were inconclusive in identifying the remains. But Deskins said investigators provided additional records and dental information from the family.

He said the size, spacing, chips and irregularities of the childrenÕs teeth match those of the remains.

In addition, the sheriff said the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have no reports of missing persons that would match the physical description of the two children.

Deskins declined to release any information about cause of death, conditions of the bodies or items recovered at the scene.