PASADENA, Texas -- Pasadena police believe they have found the bodies of two children who have been missing since Sunday. The pair was found in a wooded area off Old Galveston Road near Allendale in southeast Houston just before midnight Friday.

A source close to the investigation told 11 News reporter Jeff McShan that the bodies of the two children had been burned. Randy Sylvester Jr., 7, and his 3-year-old sister Denim had been missing since Sunday.

Police suspect that the kids’ father, Randy Sylvester Sr. is responsible for their deaths as well as dumping their bodies near a railroad overpass that crosses over Old Galveston Road.

Just hours before the gruesome discovery, police had begun draining a retention pond near the apartment complex the children lived. The location where the bodies were found is about 7 miles to the north of the pond.

Community activist Quanell X, who had been talking to Sylvester for the past two days, was able to get the father to finally lead authorities the the wooded area that sits a few yards away from a set of railroad tracks. As police and FBI investigators collected evidence in the wooded area, Quanell X could be scene talking to Sylvester in the dark of the night.

Before that, Sylvester kept pointing authorities to the pond.

In a morbid case of déjà vu, that retention pond is the same pond where the body of a murdered teen was found more than a decade ago. Three large pumps were brought in to start moving water out of the pond located near Beltway 8 and Preston Road.

It is unclear why Sylvester finally gave up the location in the woods.

Divers also searched a pond located in Crenshaw Park, but police decided to instead focus their attention on the retention pond near the Beltway on account of “inferences” by the kids’ father and other evidence that the kids' bodies were dumped there.

Police also grudgingly admitted Friday that their efforts to find Randy and Denim were considered a recovery effort.

It was 11 years ago this past April that Laura Kate Smither's body was found in that same pond that police had focused on prior to the bodies being found in the other location. Smither's disappearance changed how missing children cases are handled in Texas.

While not charged in the children's disappearance, Sylvester is in police custody on outstanding traffic ticket warrants and a drug offense probation violation.

Earlier in the night Friday, the local community rallied in support of the search effort and for the kids' mom Jerrilyn St. Cyr. In a church not far from where the kids were last seen, the St. Cyr found that her tears are shared by young and old alike.

“I know those kids and they are so sweet,” said family friend Natalie Davidson. “Just knowing that they might not come back… I don’t understand. I just want to understand.”

The kids’ mother doesn’t understand either. But she was also not giving up.

“I’m not giving up hope and please nobody else give up,” St. Cyr told the crowd at the vigil. “Please, just keep praying for my children and for them to return.”

Police weren't giving up either.

"We are just going to do it as long as we can,” said Corbett. “There are occasions when you have to realize when to let go. But we are not at that point yet."