LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — For the past eight months, Jessica Ellis hoped and searched for her kidnapped son, Amir Ellis— fearing the outcome she knew would likely come.
Then last month, remains were discovered near Jessieville.
It's been an awful two weeks for the Hot Springs mom who has gone from praying to mourning.
Jessica Ellis spent the last two weeks waiting on DNA results to know if that search for her son was finally coming to an end.
Last Thursday, she said the state crime lab confirmed to her that the human remains found off Highway 7 in Garland County were Amir's.
"It was like this immediate pain. Like, the pain was so great. It was like the love that I felt when I first had him. But the opposite of that. It was that great," Ellis said.
Even with the pain, Jessica explained that she's grateful for the closure that has come with finding Amir.
"I can breathe. I didn't even realize I wasn't breathing." Ellis said, "Because not knowing where he was, was a pain worse than his death."
Amir disappeared in May and for the last few months, thousands joined in on the search for Amir both online and in person.
"Any parent that has lost a child should never have to go through that but they definitely should never have to go through it without Amir's army," Ellis said.
Shortly after Amir disappeared, three people were arrested for their involvement, and two of them were charged with kidnapping.
Jessica explained that she plans to continue attending every court date.
"We found him and we're bringing him home. Now, I gotta make sure that he gets the justice that he deserves," Ellis described.
She remembers her own son while looking at Amir's son— whom Amir never got a chance to meet.
"He looks just like him, especially when he smiles. He has his smile, and he has his eyes." Ellis said, "So I do get to see I have a piece of my baby here. And so I'm thankful for that."
Along with fighting for justice, Jessica Ellis said she also has a new passion project. In the future, she's hoping to turn Amir's army into a community to help others.