( CNN ) -- Two years after a Fort Bragg soldier disappeared after visiting a North Carolina bar , police believe they have found her remains . `` We are deeply saddened that the discovery of the apparent remains of Army Spc . Kelli Bordeaux now concludes our final hopes of her returning safely , '' Col. Christian Karsner , Task Force Bragg 's chief of staff , said Wednesday . The remains were found Wednesday near the I-295 corridor in northern Fayetteville , police said . Nicholas Michael Holbert , 27 , has been arrested and will be charged with first-degree murder in connection with Bordeaux 's death , authorities said . Fayetteville police said more charges might follow . Holbert led police to a shallow grave where the soldier 's apparent remains were found , according to The Fayetteville Observer . Holbert , a registered sex offender , allegedly knocked Bordeaux unconscious in the parking lot of a bar before killing her behind the tavern , the Observer reported , citing arrest warrants . Bordeaux was assigned to the 601st Area Support Medical Company , 44th Medical Brigade and served as a combat medic , Fort Bragg said in a statement . `` Our new hope is that her family , members of her unit and her friends will take some comfort from this news and the degree of closure it may bring , as well as the information that this discovery may reveal , '' Karsner said . 'Got home safely ' In April 2012 , the 23-year-old soldier left the Froggy Bottoms bar early on a Saturday , police said at the time . She had been drinking and was given a ride home by a bar employee , according to a U.S. Army official who spoke on condition of anonymity at the time of that story . At some point , the Army official said , Bordeaux sent two text messages . One said , `` got home safely . '' The official did not know who the text was sent to or the contents of the second text message . In the months following Bordeaux 's disappearance , throngs of police , military members and volunteers scoured the area for Bordeaux . Bordeaux was described as a `` very good soldier , not the type of person that would come up AWOL or missing , '' Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine said in 2012 . Bordeaux was reported missing when she failed to report for duty , the official said at the time . Bordeaux 's mother , Johnna Henson , has said police told her that someone had gave her daughter a ride to the bar , where Bordeaux sang karaoke . The medical examiner 's office in Raleigh will try to determine the positive identification of the remains . CNN 's Phil Gast and Joe Sutton contributed to this report .
Army Spc . Kelli Bordeaux disappeared after leaving a bar in April 2017 . A year - old man faces a murder charge in connection with the woman 's death . Fayetteville Observer : The suspect is a registered sex offender . A medical doctor 's report will officially identify the suspect .