Human remains found near Rikers Island identified as missing flight attendant

The bones were discovered on the shore of Rikers Island on Thurday. (Source)

QUEENS — Human remains found washed up on Rikers Island Thursday have been identified as Sierra Shields, a flight attendant from Queens who went missing in January, according to a spokeswoman for the city's medical officer.

Shields, 30, was last seen around noon on Jan. 14 at LaGuardia Airport where she had just finished speaking to her supervisor. She reportedly quit her job and then left the airport.

Shields was scheduled to fly later that day, but never made the flight and has not been seen since. Her phone and wallet were found at her apartment.
The grisly discovery was made along the rocky coast on the west side of the jail by Department of Correction staffers, a source said.

The cause and manner of death are pending further studies.

PIX11's Dan Mannarino and Myles Miller contributed to this report.