Jenni Rivera Body Found: Human Remains Found in Mountains Believed to Be Singer

Authorities in Mexico believe the remains they found Monday in the mountains of Nuevo Leon, Mexico are the bodies of Jenni Rivera and her companions but recognition tests remain to be performed to confirm their identities.

Mexican authorities found human remains in the mountains of the municipality of Iturbide some 70 miles south of Monterrey at around 5 pm local time Monday, according to a spokesperson of the State's Agency of Investigations, reported newspaper El Comercio.

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"The bodies were badly affected by the accident and we are told they will do DNA tests for recognition, so that the family will be informed with the details of this procedure once they reach the Medical Examiner's Office in Monterrey," said the spokesman, according to newspaper El Comercio.

The human remains were transferred to Monterrey's Medical Examiner's Office the same day, according to media reports.

Monday's findings come as relatives of the famous Mexican-American singer known as the "Diva of Banda" told the media they were hoping that she was still alive.

"In our eyes, we still have faith that our sister will be OK," Rivera's brother Juan told reporters outside the family house near Long Beach, California on Monday.

The private plane where Rivera, four co-workers and two pilots were traveling, crashed Sunday as she headed to Mexico City to appear in the TV show "La Voz," the Mexican version of NBC's singing competition "The Voice."

The Mexican Transportation ministry has said they have elements to confirm the remains found in Iturbide which "correspond to the registered aircraft N345MC in which Rivera and his companions were traveling."

"These statements are made without reducing the forensic identification work that remains to be completed, which will allow legally valid conclusion that it is Mrs. Rivera and her companions," the spokesman for the State's Agency of Investigations told El Comercio.

Rivera, 43, was born in Long Beach California to Mexican parents. She has sold more than 15 million albums and has been nominated for numerous Latin Grammys.

She is survived by her five children: Janney, Jacqueline and Michael, from her first marriage to Jose Trinidad Marin, and Jenicka and Johnny, from her second marriage to Juan Lopez.