THURSDAY'S UPDATE:

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner says the autopsy showed no alcohol concentration in his system. Toxicology reports are still pending.

WEDNESDAY'S UPDATE:

An autopsy shows Russell J. Plummer's preliminary cause of death is hypothermia due to exposure. An autopsy was performed at the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office on Wednesday. Toxicology reports have not been completed, the results are pending.

The Chippewa County Coroner tells WEAU 13 News that Plummer had some light bruising from a possible fall down the hill where he was found. Kay Gerrits says the bruises were not life-threatening.

Meanwhile his family says even though they found Russell, they're still searching for a way to cope with his death.

"It was the most horrible thing you can imagine. I can't describe it. We were trying to be upbeat and everything so it was more shocking than anything,” says Penny Hetke, Russell’s mother.

Hetke says her family was on a rollercoaster of emotions yesterday afternoon: First finding the car belonging to her missing son, Russell Plummer, and then finding out he was dead just 50 yards away.

"It was the second trail, I think it was, that we went to and we found the car," says Hetke.

Hetke says her son was healthy. She says he looked forward to serving overseas with the Army National Guard. And though he's gone, she says she feels comfort his death happened closer to home.

“I'd rather have it like this than in Afghanistan," says Hetke.

Meanwhile, she says the family will honor Russell’s memory by living every day to the fullest.

"He lived it. He loved it. He loved life,” says Hetke.

Temperatures around the night that Plummer was last seen dipped into the low twenties, and were generally below freezing the entire week overnight. Our meteorologists say those temperatures can be dangerous.

The family of Russell Plummer says there are no set funeral arrangements yet, but they'd like to thank everyone who helped search for Russell this past week.
__________________

TUESDAY'S STORY ABOUT THE END OF THE SEARCH:

The search for a missing soldier ended Tuesday afternoon when investigators found Russell Plummer's body in the Hay Meadow Flowage area of the Chippewa County Forest.

The sheriff says there are no signs of foul play or any obvious injuries. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday. Russell Plummer’s death is considered a criminal investigation.

Deputies found Plummer’s body just a few miles from his mom's Cornell home after his family found his car on a grassy path off a dirt trail in one of his favorite places.

"He loves it. He loves hunting and wildlife and driving through there," said Russell's Sister Dustine Gass, before the search ended.

Gass said no one had seen or heard from her younger brother since last Monday night when he stopped by a bar outside of Bloomer.

"He's 20 years old; 20-year-olds bebop all over," said Penny Hetke, Russell's mom, during the search for her son.

Hetke says at first no one was too concerned, but as the days went by, they all turned to the forest.

"It's not odd for him to have his vehicle out in the forest and just sleep out there. I could see him doing that. He has done it. He loved it out there," Hetke said.

"I wished them all the luck in the world and I said keep your hopes up,” Chippewa County Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk told the family earlier Tuesday afternoon.

Just hours before the search ended, the sheriff says investigators were up in planes searching for clues. But, he says even after they found Plummer's body about 50 yards from his car, investigators found very few answers. There were no weapons and the 20-year-old's wallet and cell phone were inside his car.

"The autopsy will be the determining factor as to the cause of death and determine which direction we go with our investigation," Kowalczyk says.

Russell's family says he was a young man who was excited to get back to the life of a National Guard soldier and had lots of plans for his future. They also say he wouldn't hesitate to take his car down any path in the forest. Now, they too are just looking for answers.

The sheriff's department is asking that if you saw Russell Plummer or his car in the forest this week call (715) 726-7701.
__________________

MONDAY'S STORY ABOUT THE SEARCH:

Family and friends are searching for a 20-year-old National Guard soldier missing since early last week.

Russell Plummer from Cornell is around 5'5'' and 145 pounds with a skinny build. He has a crew cut and brown eyes. He was last seen driving an old yellow Honda Civic from the 1970s, possibly with license plate number 805-NEV.

Dustine Gass says while it's not unlike her brother to spend time with lots of family members and friends, it's very strange that no one has heard from him in more than a week.

"He is always with friends. If he's not with friends, he's on the phone with friends," Gass says.

She says no one has heard from her brother since Monday or Tuesday. The Chippewa County Sheriff's Department says a friend says he was drinking with Plummer at Mornings Corner bar in Bloomer on Monday or Tuesday night.

Investigators also say Plummer has not used his cell phone or his debit card since at least Thursday. He missed National Guard training this weekend and his sister says he was supposed to fill out paperwork to get his $10,000 bonus, but he skipped that too.

"He was very excited about the Guard. He could not wait to go back. He was bored here," Gass says.

Gass says her brother loves to hunt and is always up to something, but has nothing to run away from and never leaves his family out of the loop.

"What's next? He needs to show up. We just want to find him. He can't just disappear," Gass says.

Gass says her brother's friends and family have been searching the Chippewa County Forest the past few days since it's one of Plummer's favorite places.

Investigators entered him into the national computer as a missing person.

If you have any information, call the Chippewa County Sheriffs Department at (715) 726-7701.