MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. — The search has once again started for Luke Michael Butler, who was last seen in 2019 according to the Monroe County Sherriff's Office.
MCSO said a hunter found human remains in a rural wooded area just outside the city of Madisonville in 2022. Monroe County deputies and the Knox County Regional Forensic Center were called to investigate, eventually identifying the remains as Butler.
According to the family, the remains are just a skull. There was also a femur at the location. However, they were originally not matched to Butler.
MCSO said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation notified them that the remains were positively identified as Luke Michael "Gator" Butler. The MCSO said Butler had been reported missing to the Madisonville Police Department on Oct. 7, 2019.
According to MCSO, the area where Butler's skull was initially found has been cleared of many trees and foliage, making a returning search easier. Multiple agencies have since joined the search that began again on March 16.
"The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Task Force requested the assistance of the local volunteer fire departments and rescue squad to assist in the search. Numerous agencies sent members to volunteer with the search teams," MCSO said.
According to Michael's sister, Harmony Garcia, his disappearance was out of the ordinary.
"He was at my brother's house. And he had left with a friend. And they had gone walking. And that was the last time that my younger brother had seen him," Garcia said.
Neither the Monroe County Sheriff's Office nor the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has said anything to indicate that foul play was involved, but the search for information is still ongoing.
MCSO asked if you have any information to contact Detective Dalton Rhinehart with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office at (423) 442-3911.
