His remains were found by a hunter. The case remains unsolved nearly 25 years later

MCGREGOR, Minn. — Nearly 25 years ago, Wally Morgan Thompson’s friends and family members were growing increasingly concerned.

The 44-year-old, known for his gentle heart and friendliness, hadn’t been seen since Nov. 1, 2005, when he was dropped off at a friend’s house in Jevne Township, four miles outside of McGregor.

Four days after he was last seen, he was reported missing — and the search, led by the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office, began.

Cadaver dogs were brought in. Community members joined law enforcement to scour the area on foot, while airplanes provided an aerial view.

At the time, nothing related to Thompson was discovered.

Then, roughly four months later, his body was found by a hiker in the same area that had been previously searched.

Following an autopsy, his death wa