"Law enforcement was led through the woods and suspected human bones were recovered," officials said
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/seth-miller-52226-b81106a1411b4c76b2f5b8869bb12109.jpg "Seth Miller")
Credit: Rusk County, WI Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- Bones found by a forester earlier this month have been identified as belonging to Seth Miller, who vanished in July 2025
- Sheriff Phil Grassmann previously said authorities recovered up to 30 bones in the woods
- An investigation into his death remains ongoing
Skeletal remains discovered by a forester in a wooded area earlier this month have been identified as a Wisconsin man who vanished nearly a year ago.
On Wednesday, May 20, the Rusk County Sheriff's Office announced that human bones located in the Blue Hills on May 8 had been identified as belonging to Seth Miller, 36, who was reported missing on July 8, 2025.
Additional details, including his cause of death, were not specified.
The latest development came shortly after a forester uncovered the remains while marking trees in the area.
"Law enforcement was led through the woods and suspected human bones were recovered," the sheriff's office said in a statement at the time.
Initially, Sheriff Phil Grassmann said that authorities were able to recover fix or six bones, but eventually that number increased to 20-30, according to the Barron News-Shield.
After Miller disappeared last year, authorities were able to find his car near an intersection of Deerhamer and Sentinal Ash roads, but despite their best efforts, he remained nowhere to be found.
"At this time the Rusk County Sheriff's Office is attempting to locate Mr. Miller by way of foot search and drone operations for a check welfare," officials said, noting that they combed through "a large area" near where his car was found.
"This search was done using drones, electronics, K9's and search and rescue personnel," the sheriff's office continued. "Neither Seth or anything of evidentiary value was located."
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Following the identification, the sheriff's office said their office "would like to thank all of the agencies who assisted with the search."
The case remains under investigation.