Skeletal remains found wrapped in a blanket and tarp in a detached garage on Crestline Blooming Grove Road have been identified as 43-year-old Dustin R. Engler of Galion. Three young adults discovered the bones and called police after spotting a skull on Dec. 7. Dental records confirmed the identification; investigators are still determining the cause of death. Anyone with information should contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 419-774-5610.
Wrapped Skeletal Remains in Abandoned Ohio Garage Identified as Man Missing Since 2023
Crawford County Sheriff's OfficeThe remains of 43-year-old Dustin Engler were found in the detached garage of an abandoned Ohio home on Dec. 7
Skeletal remains recovered from a detached garage at an abandoned home in Ohio have been formally identified as Dustin R. Engler, 43, of Galion, authorities said.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, a 911 call reported possible human remains inside a garage on Crestline Blooming Grove Road, according to a joint statement from the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and the Richland County Coroner’s Office. Three young adults exploring the vacant property made the initial discovery; they first believed the bones were animal remains but called police after spotting a skull.
Ohio Attorney GeneralDustin Engler, whose remains were found on Dec. 7, had been missing since February 2023
Sgt. Scott Davis, the first officer on the scene, described the garage as cluttered with trash and a couch missing cushions. In the center of the space, a large blanket and a tarp were wrapped around skeletal remains, with sheets of plywood bundled together and placed on top. Some bones were scattered nearby. Officers secured the scene, initiated a crime-scene log and searched the nearby house and two barns, finding no other suspicious items.
After processing the scene and collecting the remains, Richland County investigators were contacted by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, which had an open missing-person report matching the circumstances. Using dental records, a forensic odontologist at Mercyhurst University confirmed the remains were those of Dustin R. Engler, who was last seen in Iberia, Ohio on Feb. 17, 2023.
Authorities said investigators are still working to determine Engler's cause of death. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit tip line at 419-774-5610. The investigation involves the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, the Richland County Coroner’s Office and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
