BAY CITY, MI – Police have identified human remains found in the Saginaw River in Bay City as those of a 41-year-old man who was recently reported missing.
Officials with the Bay City Department of Public Safety identified the victim as Justie Stilwell on Thursday evening, September 19.
Police began their investigation after receiving reports of body parts in the water near Independence Bridge on Wednesday, September 18.
Stilwell had been reported missing by family members earlier that day. His vehicle was found in a nearby park.
He was identified by his fingerprints, police said in a press release.
Related: Mysterious human remains found in the Saginaw River in Bay City
Police found two arms and two lower legs on the banks of the Saginaw River near the Golson boat ramp.
It is unclear how the human remains ended up in the Saginaw River, police said. No further evidence had been found as of Thursday evening.
A suspect has not yet been identified. Police believe this was an isolated incident and that the victim and suspect knew each other.
The U.S. Coast Guard, Michigan State Police, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Bangor Township Fire Department and Bay City Department of Public Safety Fire Operations Division all deployed watercraft to the Saginaw River to search for additional evidence.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Bay City Department of Public Safety at 989-892-8571 or the Bay County Central Dispatch non-emergency number at 989-892-9551. Individuals can also submit information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-JAIL (5245), downloading the P3 app, or visiting P3Tips.com. Photos and videos can be uploaded through the app or online.
