ONTONAGON, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan State Police say a missing Ontonagon man was found dead Saturday, September 10.
Joseph Bittner’s body was found about 1.5 miles from where his ATV was originally located.
Bittner, 58, was reported missing by his family Thursday, Sept. 8 after he didn’t return home from his camp in Ontonagon Township.
MSP’s Forensics Lab was called in the process the scene per protocol.
An autopsy is scheduled, and the investigation into his cause of death continues.
Original story:
The Michigan State Police are searching for a missing Ontonagon man.
Jospeh Bittner, 58, was last seen by family on Wednesday, September 7 around 9:30 a.m. at his home on Lakeshore Dr. He is described at 5’10” and 220 pounds with dark hair that is graying. He was last seen wearing jeans and a dark shirt.
Police say Bittner has a medical condition and requires medication. It’s unknown if he has any medication with him.
Police say Bittner left on his four-wheeler to go to a camp on Lakeshore Dr. to do some work. When he didn’t return the next day, his family called authorities to report him missing.
Bittner’s four-wheeler was found near the driveway that leads to 13820 Lakeshore Dr. shortly after the search began.
MSP canine teams from the Iron Mountain and Gladstone posts were called in to search along with the Houghton County Search and Rescue team. Drones have also been deployed, but no aviation was able to respond due to weather conditions at the time.
The search was paused around 10 p.m. Thursday, September 8 after the canines and rescue crews weren’t able to find any signs of Bittner or his direction of travel.
The search resumed Friday morning, September 9 by MSP, Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Department, the DNR, Gogebic County Search and Rescue, and Houghton County Search and Rescue. No aviation is able to respond Friday due to weather conditions.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
