Investigators are working to identify the deceased as a multi-agency inquiry continues in Genesee County.
FOREST TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Michigan State Police said investigators have confirmed the presence of at least four sets of human remains at a Genesee County property where an investigation began in March after a recently purchased parcel yielded what appeared to be human bones.
Authorities continue to examine evidence from the site while working to identify the individuals whose remains were discovered. The case has drawn attention across Michigan because of the number of remains recovered and the involvement of multiple forensic partners. Detectives have not identified any suspects, announced any arrests, or publicly connected the remains to specific missing-person cases. The investigation remains active as specialists analyze evidence collected from the property and from another location linked to the same former owner.
The investigation began March 18 when troopers from the Michigan State Police Flint Post responded to a property on Willard Road in Forest Township. According to police, the property’s new owner contacted authorities after discovering what appeared to be human remains. Detectives secured the scene and began a lengthy examination of the rural property. Over the following weeks and months, investigators worked alongside forensic experts to recover evidence and determine how many individuals were represented in the remains found there. In an update released this week, state police said detectives had determined that at least four separate sets of human remains were present. Officials have not publicly disclosed how the remains were distributed across the property, how long they may have been there, or the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Police said the investigation has involved extensive cooperation among law enforcement and scientific experts. Detectives have worked with the Genesee County Medical Examiner’s Office and anthropologists from Michigan State University to examine and classify the remains. Authorities are also seeking assistance from the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, a nationally recognized forensic identification program that specializes in complex human-remains cases. Investigators said that effort is being supported through funding provided by a National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grant. Officials have not released information about the ages, genders, or possible identities of the individuals. They also have not said whether the remains were buried, concealed, or otherwise located on the property. Many of those questions remain unanswered as laboratory analysis continues.
The case gained another dimension when investigators searched a second property in Genesee County earlier this week. State police said both the Forest Township property and the second location had previously been owned by Duane Reynolds, who died on Dec. 3, 2024, at age 61. Authorities have not accused Reynolds of any wrongdoing, and officials have not publicly stated whether evidence found so far establishes a connection between the two sites beyond ownership history. Results from the search of the second property were not immediately available. Investigators have emphasized that the existence of multiple locations under examination does not necessarily establish criminal conduct and that forensic findings will determine what conclusions can ultimately be drawn.
Procedurally, the investigation remains in a fact-finding stage. Detectives are focused on identifying the deceased, determining when the deaths occurred, and establishing whether any crimes were committed. Identification efforts could involve DNA testing, forensic anthropology, dental comparisons, and reviews of missing-person records. Until identities are confirmed, investigators face significant challenges in reconstructing timelines and determining potential causes and manners of death. State police have not announced any criminal charges and have not identified any persons of interest. Officials said additional updates will be released as information becomes available, but they have not provided a timetable for future announcements. The pace of the investigation will largely depend on forensic testing and the results of evidence analysis.
The discovery has unsettled residents in the rural community, where major investigations of this nature are uncommon. The property sits in an area characterized by open land, scattered homes, and agricultural activity. While investigators have maintained a visible presence at times during the inquiry, much of the work has occurred behind the scenes through evidence processing and laboratory examination. Officials have released only limited details, a reflection of both the sensitivity of the case and the need to preserve the integrity of the investigation. The unanswered questions surrounding the identities of the deceased and the circumstances of their deaths continue to drive public interest as authorities work to establish a clearer picture of what occurred.
The case remains open, with investigators awaiting additional forensic results and findings from the second property search. The next major milestone is expected to be the identification of the individuals whose remains were recovered, a step authorities say is essential before broader conclusions can be reached.
Author note: Last updated June 11, 2026.