A Man Wanted On Child Sex Assault Charges Disappeared 3 Years Ago. Police Found Him In A Solar-Powered Bunker.

A Man Wanted On Child Sex Assault Charges Disappeared 3 Years Ago. Police Found Him In A Solar-Powered Bunker.

Last year, a Wisconsin hunter discovered AN uncommon door peeking out from behind some thick brush off a dust path. when pondering it for months, he set to travel back last week and see what it absolutely was all regarding.

Hours later, authorities in remission a fugitive wished on multiple charges of unlawful carnal knowledge, kid sex offense, and erotica UN agency they aforementioned had been living for nearly four years in an exceedingly solar-powered bunker that he'd engineered.

Jeremiah Button had not been seen since he disappeared in February 2016, period before he was speculated to stand trial on a slew of kid sex offense and erotica charges.

The 44-year-old had been out on $25,000 bond for regarding eighteen months. Authorities say that in that point, Button had been building alittle, picket bunker tucked into the aspect of AN hill on the period path in an exceedingly state park close to the agricultural, woodsy Wisconsin city of Ringle.

Thomas Viscount Nelson, a hunter from close Wausau, told WSAW-TV that he 1st stumbled across the brush-shrouded hiding place in Gregorian calendar month, however once he detected a door engineered into the world, he bolted.

But Viscount Nelson could not stop pondering it. Months later, he retuned to the state-owned geographic region, retraced his steps, and pushed the door open.

"I return round the corner a touch and there he's, parturition in his bed." Viscount Nelson aforementioned in AN interview with the station. "I mean, i used to be shaking once I went in, i used to be shaking once I went out."

In an occasion report, Viscount Nelson told Marathon County peace officer officers that he had reportable the shelter to enforcement, the state's Department of Natural Resources, and therefore the Parks Department, however they were "unsuccessful with any results."

When he truly entered the cave and saw a person sitting in an exceedingly bed, he once more referred to as authorities and LED them to the hiding place, the report aforementioned. Lt. Troy Deiler and another deputy arrived, however aforementioned they were unable to create contact at the outside door because of its "extremely tactically unsafe location."

The officers created fifty to sixty verbal commands and banged on the roof with a metal post they'd found, the incident report aforementioned, before Button, wearing full camouflage, finally emerged when regarding twenty minutes.

"I am a wished man," he told officers together with his hands up, the report aforementioned, then proceeded to elucidate however he had been living within the woods for nearly four years. As they walked him out handcuffed, officers aforementioned Button was very chatty and remarked however "it was nice to speak to some groups of people."

"It's quite one thing. positively a brand new one," Lt. Steven DeNovi , UN agency has been with the Marathon County Sheriff's workplace for regarding sixteen years, aforementioned of the case.

According to authorities, UN agency later interviewed Button when apprehending him within his fort, the fugitive had chosen the realm for its remoteness and proximity to an area lowland. He then spent months creating by removal and building out his cave.

"This individual specifically was very artful with going into the geographic region and going off the grid," DeNovi told BuzzFeed News.

To survive, Button had brought in backpacks packed with foodstuff and different provides, together with a flat-screen TV. because the months wore on, he would walk and bike a couple of half-mile to the Marathon County lowland and "scavenge" no matter he required.

"He was essentially living off trash. From what I perceive, he went there nearly daily for things," DeNovi aforementioned, adding that the bunker was packed packed with "all types of items" that he had found over the years.

Button found his camouflage outfit, complete with a "boonie style" hat, within the lowland, and told officers it absolutely was "a very nice notice for him," the incident report aforementioned.

Video of the hiding place from WSAW-TV discovered a incommodious area stuffed to the brim with cans, clothes, many laptops, storage things, ANd an array of different things.


On prime of the cave, officers found many star panels and automotive batteries, that Button later told authorities he wont to power his radio, TV, lights, and fans.

"And from those 3 automotive batteries he has running to LED lights and radios and cooling fans, all types of equipment, a number of it left intact for its supposed purpose, and different things he took apart to suit the requirements he had," Detective Lt. Jeff Stefonek told the station.

For backup power, Button created a generator employing a bicycle that he may pedal. to make sure he had water, the fugitive wanted out a wet a part of the woods and engineered a well. He would filter the water through charcoal and sand-lined filters before boiling it.

"He wasn't solely living however thriving during this structure through all of the various provides he was ready to notice," Stefonek aforementioned.

Despite the flowery, crowded setup, authorities say there's no proof that anyone else had been living there. Detectives don't apprehend if he had been act with individuals from the bunker, DeNovi aforementioned.

However, Button typically interacted with hikers and hunters, like Viscount Nelson, and would sometimes chat with individuals at the dump, the lieutenant explained.

"He stumbled across or had random encounters with individuals within the woods and therefore the lowland and would create as somebody hiking or UN agency was out for a walk," DeNovi aforementioned. "He would have casual conversations with individuals regarding the paths or the weather."

Before he disappeared, Button was set to square trial for four counts of kid sex offense and erotica from 2014, together with first-degree sex offense and unlawful carnal knowledge with a toddler, consistent with court documents. He had pleaded guiltless to all or any charges.

To trick individuals into basic cognitive process he fled the realm, he left his notecase at his mother's house with a note that he was moving to Everglade State, the report aforementioned. He then hopped into a train's freight car in Stevens purpose and coated himself with the fabric. Once he need to the Wausau space, he got off and quickly found himself lost. It took him regarding 2 days of walking to seek out his approach back to his bunker.

Button is presently in custody in Portage County Jail and is being hung on a $100,000 bond. He regular to be back in court on Sept. 16.

Authorities say they are baffled at the lengths the fugitive visited produce a very new life within the woods.

"There ar fugitives around North American nation all the time," DeNovi aforementioned. "It's rare after they detonate the grid like this and succeed one thing like this."
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