Missing Indiana Man’s Remains Found In Storage Unit Rented By Son Who Allegedly Killed Him

The remains of a 58-year-old man reported missing almost two years ago and whom prosecutors claimed was killed by his son were found in a storage facility in a town in Hendricks County, Indiana, last week, authorities announced Monday.

Roger Farmer's body was found in an Ameri-Stor self-storage unit located in the 1400 block of North Green Street in Brownsburg on May 13, local newspaper the Indianapolis Star reported, citing the Marion County Coroner's Office. According to the coroner's office, the man died of a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a homicide.

The Wayne Township resident was reported missing on Dec. 27, 2019, after a reported hunting trip to the town of Versailles in Indiana days before Thanksgiving. Authorities arrested his 37-year-old son, Jeremy Farmer, and charged him with murder in February for his father's disappearance.

Financial records showed Jeremy cleared out Roger's bank accounts and confessed to one family member that he shot his father in the head and hid the body in a freezer, according to court documents cited by WXIN. But since Jeremy told police he had no hand in his father's disappearance, no one was sure where Roger's body was hidden.

His remains were finally found in a unit Jeremy had rented in November 2019, police said Monday, as per the IndyStar. Officials told the newspaper that authorities were alerted of the remains when someone at the facility became "suspicious" of the name connected to the unit and reported it to police.

"We are extremely relieved that our father has been found and identified, this is just the beginning of a new chapter as we try to move forward and process these developing discoveries," Roger's family was quoted by WTTV as saying in a statement.

"Please respect our family’s privacy as we are finally able to mourn and can prepare for the next steps moving forward," they continued.

Prior to the discovery, court records showed family members continued to receive text messages from Roger following his disappearance, according to the IndyStar. They, however, told investigators that they believe it was not their father who sent the messages as they did not follow Roger's usual texting patterns.

Cellphone records revealed that Roger's phone had not left the family's home since he went missing.

Investigators said in an affidavit that interviews with Roger's friends revealed that the father and son had a strained relationship, with one lifelong friend alleging that Jeremy had a history of stealing from his father.

Roger had attempted to improve the relationship, but he allegedly warned Jeremy he would press charges if the latter would attempt to steal again.

Court records showed Jeremy has been held in Marion County Jail since Feb. 10.