Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). The property where Bills was apparently found belongs to, All contact with everyone after the third was cut off; her phone was never turned on after the third, Eaves, . Grimshaw said the 34-year-old was being held at Alpena County Jail on a "separate" charge of unlawful imprisonment and felonious assault from "an incident that occurred on Monday. Yesterday afternoon MSP detectives and the MSP Crime Lab responded to a wooded area in Alpena Township and discovered the remains of female. The remains of teenager Brynn Bills are believed to have been discovered in a shallow grave on property owned by Joshua Wirgau. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Wednesday unveiled a bill to raise the debt ceiling into next year, slash federal spending by billions of dollars and unwind some of President Biden's . For instance, Hill participated in the alleged holdup on Sept. 21 with Wirgau, the owner of the Alpena Township home where police found the body of 18-year-old Bynn Bills at the end of September. Investigators say 17-year-old Brynn Bills of Mio was found in one of the suspect's yards in Alpena Township last September. . Police interviewed someone whose name is obscured in the police report at the Grayling Crime Lab subsequent to the stop of the Hummer. * Sept. 27: Police arrest Wirgau on charges related to the alleged hijacking. State police said they were acting on an anonymous tip from the past weekend when they executing a search warrant at the home in connection with the case. So far, there has been no evidence showing that Wirgau knew Bills or if they have any ties. Troopers said Hill is wanted on two felony warrants stemming from a Sept. 21 incident in which she is one of three accused of unlawful imprisonment and illegal possession of a firearm, according to court records. The failure of strict new abortion laws to advance in two conservative-dominated legislatures on the same day this week signaled a mounting fear among some Republicans that abortion bans . I cant say much more without breaking more. He also allegedly participated in the Sept. 21 hijacking with Hill. NEWS. On May 1, Billis posted a photo of a lion roaring in the furry face of a meditating monkey and added the caption: "Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace. Operating on a tip, the Michigan State Police executed a search warrant on a property in rural Alpena Township on Tuesday morning, where they discovered human remains believed to be that of Brynn Bills, 18, a Michigan State Police press release states. Duane Bills offered a reward that climbed to $20,000 for any information leading to a break in the case. While not much information is available on Wirgau, according to the Michigan Sex Offender Registry, he is a registered sex offender. The legislation provides $5.4 million to create the unit. Kemp Signs Bill to Create Cold Case Unit. She was last heard from on Aug. 3. Ms Bills, who went missing last month, was connected to the body that was found through tattoo markers after it was discovered in Alpena Township on Tuesday, according to Michigan State Police.. Police arrested Wirgau that day on charges related to an alleged Sept. 21 hijacking. Im physically sick. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. State police are calling the death suspicious at this point as part of a criminal investigation. So it was easy to locate, there were several spots on the property like that, so we narrowed our search to those and thats where we found the body.. Updates will be posted on the Twitter account of MSPNorthernMI. Connect with her on Twitter @angelamulka. Following an unrelated incident that took place earlier this week, Mr Wirgau was already in custody on charges of unlawful imprisonment and felonious assault. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. What was a missing person case is now a suspicious death investigation, Michigan State Police announced Wednesday. Sept. 25, 2021: Someone places five phone calls from a phone investigated by police. U never let me down. State police said there are other persons of interest who they are talking to in connection with their investigation. Abby Hill is pictured in an undated photo. Tucker Carlson was abruptly dropped by Fox News on Monday. MSP investigating death of another Alpena County woman weeks after Brynn Bills death, Newsletters: Get local news delivered directly to you. The 18-year-old has been missing since early August, and her father . Angela Mulka has a bachelors degree in journalism, focused on environmental science and health reporting, from Michigan State University. For instance, Hill participated in the alleged holdup on Sept. 21 with Wirgau, the owner of the Alpena Township home where police found the body of 18-year-old Bynn Bills at the end of September. If police positively identify the newly found body as Hill, many unanswered questions remain. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Since the investigation was ongoing, further information wasnt immediately available. jriddle@thealpenanews.com News Photo by Julie Riddle Bruce Kinsey appears in the 26th Circuit Court on Tuesday. Share. Dogs missing as thief steals car from outside Michigan groomer with pups inside, Woman gets prison time for selling deadly weight loss pills in Michigan, Man suspected of fatal bonfire shooting to be tested for mental competency, Woman, 25, shot to death in Michigan street. Bills was an 18-year-old woman from Michigan who was reported missing in early August. Her father said she was last seen alive Aug. 1, though police have indicated it may have been as late as Aug. 3. The only thing that comes to my head is trusting the wrong people, said Eaves who met Bills about two years ago. Story continues below timeline. He says he's living in hiding after receiving death threats. Troopers from the MSP. Im so so so sorry that b**tard did this. Grimshaw said there are additional persons of interest but he would not elaborate. ALPENA - Six months after police found the body of Alpena teen Brynn Bills buried in Joshua Wirgau's back yard, police have yet to arrest anyone related to the girl's death. On Dec. 22, police turned their investigation over to Muszynski for review for possible charges, but would not say who might be charged or with what. At a news conference Wednesday, Michigan State Police said they've reclassified the case of Brynn Bills of Alpena as a suspicious death investigation, following the discovery on Tuesday. We are not done Brynn Bills with the people who shortened your life. 9 and 10 News reported state police were executing a search warrant Tuesday at the home on Naylor Road in Alpena Township in connection with the case of Bills. Wirgau is currently being held without bond in the Alpena County Jail on charges related to an incident that occurred earlier this week. During the same incident, someone produced a pistol and pointed it at a persons head, ordering the person to not look and to drive them to another location. Michigan State Police are investigating what appears to be a homicide in Alpena County after the remains of a female were found in a wooded area Friday afternoon. In 2019, he amassed 62 tackles and a team-high 19 tackles for a loss, along . Police found several guns, ammunition, and at least one black duffel bag on that property, according to a motion filed in court last year by Alpena County Prosecutor Cynthia Muszynski. Idk how to function. 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She was Facebook friends with Brynn Bills, who disappeared in August shortly before she would have turned 18. If you would like to donate, click here for the GoFundMe page. The 18-year-old went missing in early August. pic.twitter.com/b0Fvdh4m37. Wirgau worked in the repair shop of the same towing company where his alleged victim in the hijacking case worked. Ms Bills, who went missing last month, was connected to the body that was found through tattoo markers after it was discovered in Alpena Township on Tuesday, according to Michigan State Police. Her cause of death was pending the results of an autopsy. ALPENA, MI The investigation into the suspicious death of a Northern Michigan teen led police to search a wooded area in Alpena County with a helicopter and K9 units on Wednesday, Oct. 6, WPBN/WGTU reports. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family of Brynn Bills with the expenses they need. A timeline of major events in the investigation into Bills death: * Early Aug.: Bills goes missing. Little else is known about what allegedly happened that night. The Attorney General says the investigation shows Brynn Bills was picked up by Abby Hill, about a week after Bills was reported missing. The investigators ultimately caught a break in Bill's case and updated it from a missing to a "suspicious death" case. "We are still actively seeking any information on what has transpired and we are not exactly sure of the cause of her death," according to the message. A judge in 2009 sentenced Wirgau to 43 months in prison for sexually assaulting a girl between the ages of 13 and 15, when Wirgau was 20. "Our beautiful Brynn is now a beautiful angel," read the updated post from Wednesday by one of the page's organizer. On Oct. 16, police said theyd found Hills body following a search of a wooded area in Alpena Township the day before. Friend says Brynn Bills may have trusted the wrong people. Bills cause of death has not been released either. BRYNN Bills was a missing teenager from Alpena Township, Michigan. Like she went ghost after the third., on Wednesday, noting that this was not what we hoped for.. Wirgau then handed the driver a baggie the driver said contained cocaine and then Srebnik handed the driver a $100 bill through the passenger-side window and told him to tell a female acquaintance he loved her, and demanded the driver leave. The document shows the driver told police they drove the three to the intersection and all exited the vehicle. Michigan State Police announced that the search for Bills ended after they dug up remains from the backyard of a West Naylor Road home in Alpena Township. We got matching tattoos a week into knowing each other for whatever reason but Im glad we did. The remains of the missing 18-year-old woman Brynn Bills are believed to have been found in a shallow grave with "fresh dirt" outside a home in Michigan, police have said. I cant believe ur gone its to hard to think about. We were what u called 'soul sisters. The family filed a missing persons report with the Alpena Police Department on Aug. 17 after they became concerned when she did not respond to messages about her 18th birthday. They said it appears Hill died by homicide. 1,975 likes. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The men were sentenced last week in a separate case involving a gun crime, AP reports. He wrote: "It's with a heavy heart I'm letting everyone know we did find brynns body yesterday around 4:30 pm. Michigan State Police dig near a home in Alpena Township in the search for missing teen Brynn Bills on Sept. 28, 2021, Michigan State Police announced Wednesday afternoon that human remains found buried near a home in Alpena Township are believed to belong to Brynn Bills based on tattoos on the body. Oct. 13, 2021: A person had used his mothers cell phone during the previous week to make contact with associates, Detective Sgt. Donations received will go towards final arrangements," reads a post on the page. "So if anyone has any legit information please come forward so we can bring the people that harmed my daughter to justice. The family filed a missing persons report with the Alpena Police Department on Aug. 17 after they became concerned when she did not respond to messages about her 18th birthday. Michigan State Police are investigating what appears to be a homicide in Alpena County after the remains of a female were found in a wooded area Friday afternoon. A candlelight vigil honoring Bills has been planned for Saturday, Oct. 23. Yesterday afternoon MSP detectives and the MSP Crime Lab responded to a wooded area in Alpena Township and discovered the remains of female. "Today we are no longer investigating Brynn Bills as a missing person," Grimshaw said. A positive identification has not been made, but it is believed to be Abby Hill. Police on Oct. 6 searched the area near the Lacomb-Haken intersection with a police dog and a helicopter, but police wouldnt confirm whether that search was related to the alleged hijacking or Bills death. They released her the next day, as is typical in such cases. However, that area is also related to a separate case in which Wirgau and two others allegedly called a tow truck, held the driver at gunpoint and had him drive them to that location on Sept. 21. The following month, she posted a note about how she is hurt about feeling forced to act tough face. Like she went ghost after the third., The family of Bills updated her GoFundMe on Wednesday, noting that this was not what we hoped for.. He is a person of interest, obviously, Grimshaw told reporters. All contact with everyone after the third was cut off; her phone was never turned on after the third, Eavespreviously toldWBKB. Wirgau had a handgun, while Hill and Srebnik each had an assault-style rifle, the man testified. A year before that, Wirgau pleaded guilty to third-degree retail fraud and an unrelated drunk-driving charge. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! He is a person of interest, obviously. Bills disappeared on Aug. 1 when her family last had contact with her. She realizes the importance of representation for all people in storytelling and values the field because of its commitment to uncovering truth. The remains were linked to Brynn through tattoos. MSP detectives say a positive identification has not been made, but it is believed to be Abby Hill, 31, who was reported missing on Oct. 5. It was announced by the Michigan State Police on September 29, 2021, that they had found her body and are now conducing a "suspicious death" investigation. Bills had been missing since August, and her father, Guane, put out a $20,000 reward for information that could lead to his daughter's whereabouts. "Human remains were found buried on the property they were believed to be Brynn Bills based on tattoos located on the deceased body," said Michigan State Police First Lt John Grimshaw during an. He is being held without bond in the Alpena County Jail on charges of unlawful imprisonment and felonious assault in connection with an unrelated incident from earlier this week. The only thing that comes to my head is trusting the wrong people, she said. Im SOOO sorry for your lossmy thoughts and prayers are with you and your family". Michigan State Police hopes to have more information in the investigation in the coming days. Brynn Bills, 18, missing since early August; person of interest in custody after body found thanks to anonymous tip. Acting on a tip, police searched a wooded area behind Wirgaus home on Naylor Road on Sept. 28 and found Bills body, which they identified through tattoo markings. You have the personality that nobody will ever compare to. Both face several charges related to the alleged hijacking. Records show that on the night of Sept. 21, Hill, Joshua Wirgau and Brad Srebnik called for a tow truck from Prells Towing in Alpena. "Unfortunately, we are now investigating her as a suspicious death." The cause of death has yet to be determined. * Nov. 19: In a court filing, Alpena County Prosecutor Cynthia Muszynski says Srebnik is a suspect in Hills and Bills deaths, which she calls homicides. In February of 2009, he was convicted of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree of a person between the ages of 13 and 15 and in May of 2009, he was also convicted of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree. Share. Its not clear from court records whether Wirgau, Hill or Srebnik knew their alleged victim, and police would add no further details, according to reporting by the Alpena News. Court documents also state Hill and Srebnik were with Wirgau and both had guns, too. amen," read one of the 18-year-old's introspective messages. The discovery of her body, identified by tattoos, transitioned the case from a missing person to a suspicious death; she had been missing since early August. Court. In October, Kinsey pleaded guilty to lying to a police officer after the Attorney Generals Office said he gave false testimony about where he picked up Srebnik and Wirgau on an unspecified date. The cause of death is pending both an autopsy and pathology tests. He also has pleaded guilty previously to delivering marijuana. He has an attorney.. Ms Bills, who went . * Sept. 28: Police find Bills body buried on Wirgaus Naylor Road property. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. The remains were transported to Western Michigan University for an autopsy. Angela Mulka has a bachelors degree in journalism, focused on environmental science and health reporting, from Michigan State University. An autopsy is scheduled for today, Oct. 18, to determine the cause of death. MSP investigating death of another Alpena County woman weeks after Brynn Bills death Remains believed to be Abby Hill, who was reported missing on Oct. 5 Angela Mulka , angela.mulka@hearstnp.com Wirgau is currently being held without bond in the Alpena County Jail on separate charges of unlawful Imprisonment and felonious assault from an unrelated incident that occurred earlier this week, according to the state police. She was last seen alive in early August. Investigators are still waiting for toxicology and autopsy reports in the Bills case, according to Special Lt. Derrick Carroll. Courtesy Photo We are still actively seeking any information on what has transpired and we are not exactly sure of the cause of her death. Police say Hill participated in the alleged hijacking with Srebnik and Wirgau on Sept. 21. RELATED: Body of missing Northern Michigan teen found buried. It also featured a photo of Bills with angel wings and a halo above her head. ALPENA COUNTY, Mich. (WPBN/WGTU) -- The family of Brynn Bills is thanking the community for its support but also encouraging people to . Check out the police records obtained by The News through Michigans Freedom of Information Act below. Investigators are still. Bill Whitaker reports. After learning of her death, he wrote: "It's with a heavy heart I'm letting everyone know we did find brynns body yesterday around 4:30 pm. "Human remains were found buried on the property they were believed to be Brynn Bills based on tattoos located on the deceased body," said Michigan State Police First Lt John Grimshaw during an appearance before reporters. The man told the woman that its all going to come out soon, all will know about it soon, according to the report. When it arrived, they held the driver hostage at gunpoint, forcing him to drive the group to the intersection of Lacomb and Haken Roads, records state. Srebnik was bound over to 26th Circuit Court for trial on Oct. 25 and Wirgau was bound over on Nov. 10. Brad Srebnik, Brynn Bills, Abby Hill, Joshua Wirgau. And, basically, trying to track where she went has been impossible. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Brynn Bills has been missing since August, and the remains found this week were linked through tattoos on the body after it was recovered in Alpena Township on Tuesday, Michigan State Police said. The 10 Best Places to Live in Pennsylvania, Ferris professor: Climate change will have domino effect, Former Ferris standout agrees to NFL contract, Michigan ghost towns: Altona started with a dam, Shelter director overcomes challenges to help homeless, Home cooking: Coyote boys track team wins Reed City Invitational, Ducks Unlimited installs wood duck nesting boxes, Runners support MeCeola Children's Council Family 5K, BLOTTER: Child abuse investigation results in arrest. Sept. 27, 2021: A man contacts police to report two men trespassing on his property, referencing a picture with a date and time stamp of 6:11 p.m. that day. Before that, Srebnik in 2007 pleaded guilty to charges of conducting criminal enterprises and receiving stolen property. When the driver got there, the alleged victim testified, Wirgau got into the passenger seat of the tow truck while Hill and Srebnik, hopped onto the bed of the truck. Till the writing of this article, $4,768 had been raised of $10,000 goal. Separately, Muszynski charged two men Brad. The body of 18-year-old Brynn Bills was found buried in the backyard of an Alpena-area home on Sept. 28, police said. love you brynn with all my heart. The homeowner, Joshua Wirgau, is a person of interest in the case. Wirgau appeared skittish and paranoid and started sobbing during the drive. Bills disappeared on Aug. 1 when her family last had contact with her. Records show that on the night of Sept. 21, Hill, Joshua Wirgau and Brad Srebnik called for a tow truck from Prells Towing in Alpena. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Wirgau allegedly pointed the handgun at the driver for a few seconds, demanded the driver take them to the intersection of Lacomb and Haken roads, and then laid the gun on his lap. An autopsy and toxicology report is pending. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Few specifics of that incident could be determined from the heavily blacked-out pages of the police report. Police didnt say how the area may be related to Bills death or if they found any evidence during the search. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. State police said the home belongs to Joshua Wirgau, 34, who is now being called a person of interest in the case. Troopers said Hill is wanted on two felony warrants stemming from a Sept. 21 incident in which she is one of three accused of unlawful imprisonment and illegal possession of a firearm, according to court records. Remains believed to be 18-year-old Brynn Bills were found during the search of an Alpena home. News Photo by Julie Riddle Meanwhile, both Wirgau and Srebnik remain in jail on charges stemming from the Sept. 21 incident. Police arrested Kinsey on May 12 as he served a one-year sentence on unrelated charges. It took us a long time to find the remains and to get her out of there, he added. A family member confirmed to UpNorthLive News that the missing Hill was one of the last people to see Brynn Bills before she disappeared and was ultimately found dead. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Brynn Bills, 18, had been missing since early August. Body of missing Northern Michigan teen found buried. No arrests have been made in either case. Police said the home where the body was found belongs to Joshua Wirgau, 34 a person of interest in the death of Ms Bills. Friends and family called Bills, of Alpena, a smart, caring, outgoing lover of the outdoors and music. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. He is the homeowner where there was a deceased body found on it, so he is a person of interest, said Grimshaw. An autopsy is scheduled for today, Oct. 18, to determine the cause of death. Kinseys attorney said both sides need more time to determine how many days jail credit Kinsey has earned before going forward with sentencing. At this time, police are asking for anyone with additional information surrounding her disappearance or death to call the Michigan State Police Alpena Post at 989-354-4101. Originally scheduled for Tuesday, Kinseys sentencing was postponed to a date to be decided by the court. FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - Police believe they found the body of 18-year-old Brynn Bills while searching a residence in Alpena County on Tuesday morning. * Aug. 27: Police first report Bills missing and seek the publics help in finding her. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings.