Investigators identify human remains found in Monroe County
Officials transported a skull to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center for examination and identification.
MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) - Human remains found in October were identified as a missing man from Madisonville, according to Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation notified the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office that DNA testing identified the remains as Luke Michael ‘Gator’ Butler who was reported missing on Oct. 7, 2019.
A hunter found the skull in a rural wooded area just outside the Madisonville city limits, according to a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office. Afterward, several agencies responded to the scene to search for additional remains and transported them to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center.
“The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office would like to send condolences to the family and friends of Luke Michael Butler,” Jones said.
Jones said they were continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death. He urged anyone with information to contact the TBI or the sheriff’s office.
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