The skeletal remains found in Holmes Beach have been positively identified as those of Sabine Musil-Buehler, who went missing in 2008, officials say.

Manatee County authorities discovered the remains along a stretch of Holmes Beach during a search for the Musil-Buehler's body. The 49-year-old woman went missing on Nov. 4, 2008.

Crews found Converse tennis shoes Thursday night similar to the ones Musil-Buehler was wearing at the time of her disappearance.

Musil-Buehler's boyfriend at the time of her disappearance, William Cumber, was charged with murder in October 2012.

Authorities said Musil-Buehler's family was notified of the discovery. Officials said a definitive identification of the remains would take a few days.

The sheriff's office said as a result of a plea deal with Cumber, deputies escorted him to an area of the beach off 81st Street in Holmes Beach where Musil-Buehler's body is presumed to be.

"We've done a number of digs and I saw the location and I was like, we've never been here before," said Manatee Sheriff Brad Steube. "Maybe this is where she is actually located."

William Cumber (right) was taken out to the beach on Thursday where he directed authorities to an area where he says Musil-Buehler's body is buried.

Detectives have searched several areas of Anna Maria Island for Musil-Buehler’s body since her disappearance but did not locate her until this week. Items belonging to Musil-Buehler were located in a wooded area near the beach in July 2011.

Deputies spent Thursday searching the area.

Sabine's friends can't believe that after seven years of searching, her body was just down the alley from the hotel she owned and where she was murdered.

"We know she's been right behind us, right in our backyard for seven years,” Debbie Hall said.

Cumber also gave a full account of the murder to detectives in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence. Those details aren't public yet, but the sheriff calls it a crime of passion. Sabine was breaking up with Cumber and they got into an argument the night of the murder.

“That argument began over him smoking cigarettes and we believe all along she intended on leaving him, so it just escalated to the point where this occurred," said Steube.

Cumber was facing life in prison if he went to trial for second-degree murder. Instead, he took the plea deal.

"I feel closure today,” Hall said. “The sheriff gave me a little sand where her body is. I just keep a little sand and always remember Sabine on the beach.”

Sabine Musil-Buehler went missing on Nov. 4, 2008. She was 49 years old. Detectives have searched several areas of Anna Maria Island for Musil-Buehler’s body since her disappearance but have not located her.