Skeletal remains found in Montana forest identified years later as Army vet, reports say

Skeletal remains found by hunters in a remote area of a Montana national forest have been identified as an Army veteran, reports say.

Using DNA technology, the remains were identified as Michael Moler, 63 of Midland, Texas, the Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office said in a July 10 news release.

In November 2019, hunters happened upon skeletal remains near West Rosebud Lake in Custer Gallatin National Forest, Flathead Beacon reported. Investigators at the time said it appeared the remains had been there for several years.

After the sheriff’s office collected the remains, forensic anthropologists examined them and determined the man, who was found with no identifying information, was between 50 to 70 years old when he died, according to Othram Inc., the forensic genealogy company that helped identify the remains..

Investigators entered the information from the case into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, however, the case soon went cold, according to Othram.

Two years later, the sheriff’s office reached out to Othram for help identifying the remains, Othram said.

The remains were sent to Othram’s laboratory, where the company said its scientists built a “comprehensive DNA profile” for the man that was used by the company’s “genetic genealogy team to generate investigative leads.”

Genetic genealogy uses DNA testing coupled with “traditional genealogical methods” to create “family history profiles,” according to the Library of Congress. With genealogical DNA testing, researchers can determine if and how people are biologically related.

Through this process, Othram said the remains were identified as Michael Moler, an Army veteran who was born in Columbus, Montana.

The sheriff’s office said it is investigating Moler’s death, but added that foul play is not suspected.

Moler enlisted in the Army after high school and “served in Germany as an Intelligence Specialist,” according to his obituary published in The Billings Gazette. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University.

He is survived by his daughter — “his pride and joy” — and four grandchildren, his obituary says.

Moler will be buried “with military honors” at Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel, Montana, according to Othram.

Custer Gallatin National Forest is about 70 miles southwest of Billings.

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