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University of South Florida Researches searching for skeletal remains in the Florida Panhandle have wrapped up the first phase of their search. As Matt Horn reports, there is still a long way to go before nagging questions of abuse are answered.

Just feet away from their gravesites at the former-Dozier School for Boys, skeletal remains exhumed Monday afternoon are ready to be examined.

“Preliminary analysis of dental remains show, suggest they are 10 to 13 years old,” said Researcher Erin Kimmerle.

A team of 25 researchers will now take evidence back to the University of South Florida to figure out just who was found in the graves and collect more evidence on the remains.

“More information we can write up a little narrative about that individual and send samples off for DNA testing,” she said.

Horror stories from inmates beaten at the ‘White House’ at the school sparked an investigation in 2008.

Researchers started looking at dozens of marked and unmarked graves last year after a law enforcement report was inconclusive. After a political tug of war with local officials, they began exhuming bodies this weekend. At least 50 bodies are expected to be found in the unmarked graves. Plans are in the works to prepare for a longer dig this fall.

“We’ve got to have power and water and sewer and lights. We’ve got to have everything you would need to operate for over a month,” said volunteer Larry Bedore.

Researchers will be back at the campus over the next year to search for other forgotten former-students who are believed to be buried in unmarked graves. The goal is to return any remains to loved ones.

Researchers say further DNA testing will be sent to the University of North Texas – which will help the group identify the remains found over the weekend.