MORTON, Ind. (WISH) – Skeletal remains found in April around a Putnam County lake have been identified as a 50-year-old man missing since 2016, authorities said Tuesday night.

William Wayne Johansen of rural Putnam County had been reported missing to the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post on Nov. 15, 2016. 

The Putnam County coroner, Indiana State Police investigators and a University of Indianapolis anthropologist helped identified the remains found just after noon April 26 in the Van Bibber-Glen Flynt Lake area. That’s located south of U.S. 36 about 30 miles east of Indianapolis.

The cause of death has not been determined, but foul play is not suspected, authorities said. 

A DNA sample sent to a state police lab helped to identify Johansen. 

MORTON, Ind. (WISH) – State police are investigating what appears to be human remains found in northwestern Putnam County.

A mushroom hunter found the remains about 12:45 p.m. Thursday in the area of Van Bibber Lake, about 35 miles west of Indianapolis, the Indiana State Police said in a news release Thursday night.

Police and members of the county coroner’s office expect to spend several weeks trying to identify the remains.

“At this time, detectives will not speculate on the age, sex, or otherwise,” the news release said.

State police detectives, though, are investigating the possibility the discovery may be related to a person from the area reported missing to the Putnamville post on Nov. 15, 2016.

Investigators said they believe there is no danger to the public.