TOPPENISH, Wash. – The skeletal remains of two people were found this week along a highway in rural Yakima County, and the FBI says they may belong to two men who went missing last year.
A crew working along Highway 97 near Toppenish stumbled across the remains and notified authorities.
FBI agents as well as members of the Yakama Tribal law enforcement responded to the scene Wednesday and began collecting evidence.
Investigators determined the remains had been in the area since at least last winter.
The FBI now confirms that agents are investigating the possibility that the remains may be those of 26-year-old Josiah Hilderbrand and 48-year-old Jon Cleary. The two were traveling from California to George, Washington in 2019 when they went missing.
Their vehicle was found June 8, abandoned and partially burned in Wapato.
In May, the FBI offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to their whereabouts.