I had so hoped this case would have a happy outcome. I have extended family in Birmingham and Anniston, and Alabama cases always seem a bit more "personal" to me. My heart breaks for family and friends of Ben Stanford.
Autopsy should be able to determine cause of death, and maybe that will be instrumental in solving the case.
Years ago when I lived in Marietta, GA a man disappeared from his car on the side of I-75, very near the intersection of 285 north in Cobb County. The car was abandoned on the side of the interstate, in the emergency lane.
Almost a year later a survey crew found his skeleton in woods above the highway. AFAIK, it remains a mystery of how and why he left his car, went over the interstate fencing, and died up the hill just 100 yds or so from the road.