Man Disappeared Nearly 20 Years Ago. His Remains May Have Just Been Found in Submerged Van

A scuba diver recovered a conveyance submerged successful nan Ohio River pinch remains inside. Authorities successful Kentucky judge they whitethorn beryllium linked to a ngo persons lawsuit from 2006.

On Friday, Sept. 12, astir 10 a.m. section time, a diver spotted nan van adjacent a vessel ramp successful nan assemblage of h2o successful Morganfield, nan Kentucky State Police said successful a statement. The individual instantly contacted officials — and erstwhile nan van was pulled from nan river, quality remains were recovered inside.

“At this time, nan personality of nan remains has not been confirmed,” authorities constabulary said. “However, investigators judge nan find whitethorn beryllium connected to a Union County man who was reported missing successful 2006.” 

Following nan discovery, investigators worked connected processing nan vehicle. The remains, which person yet to beryllium identified, were past sent to nan authorities aesculapian examiner’s agency for further examination.

James Michael Mills was 38 years aged erstwhile he was past seen astatine his location successful Uniontown astatine 5:30 p.m. connected Jan. 16, 2006, according to nan National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).

Officials primitively reported that he whitethorn person been driving a 1994 achromatic Plymouth Voyager Van pinch a spray-painted doorway astatine nan clip of his disappearance.

Last year, Morganfield metropolis officials arranged a candlelight vigil for Mills, NBC connection WFIE previously reported.

“The memorial work will beryllium for anyone who has mislaid a comparative aliases a loved one,” said Mayor Randy Greenwell said connected societal media up of nan event, according to nan outlet.

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Although nan remains recovered wrong nan van person yet to beryllium identified, Kellie Farmer, Mills’ relative told nan outlet that nan find brought up mixed emotions for nan family.

“It’s sad because his mom passed distant not knowing what happened to him,” Farmer said. “Just nan bid that went complete us, conscionable knowing that we could yet bring him home.”

No matter what happened, nan ones near down person ever remembered Mills.

“He wasn’t forgotten,” she told nan outlet. “If he was ever to show up, I conscionable wanted him to cognize we didn’t hide astir him.”

The Kentucky State Police and nan Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office did not instantly respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.