Human Remains Identified as Missing Franklin County Man

Chesterfield, Mo. (KFMO) - Authorities have confirmed that human remains found earlier this month belong to a Franklin County man who had been missing for more than two years.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announced Friday that remains recovered on April 13, 2025, along the Missouri River near Chesterfield have been identified as 37-year-old Aaron M. Duenke, of Washington, Missouri. Duenke was last seen on December 27, 2022, reportedly floating on an ice flow in the Missouri River near Washington. Despite extensive multi-jurisdictional search efforts in the days and weeks that followed, no trace of him was found—until now. A citizen discovered the remains on April 13, prompting a coordinated recovery effort involving the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Highway Patrol’s Water Patrol Division. The remains were transferred to the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office for identification.

On April 18, the Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the remains were those of Duenke. His family has been notified. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has not released further details about the cause of death.