By Neil Johnson, reporter/anchor,

Big Radio and WCLO Radio News

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Christopher Miller’s family says authorities have not given clues why the Madison man’s body turned up at a rural Beloit residence miles from where police say he fled officers after he crashed a car near Janesville during a chase last November.

Miller’s fiance, Mallory Duerst, says investigators have not shared how long Miller’s body may have been at a town of Turtle home, or whether police suspect foul play. Duerst said authorities only shared the body they found Sunday in the town of Turtle was in a advanced state of decomposition. Authorities told the family they were able to ID Miller using old dental records and a tattoo on his chest.

Duerst said that during volunteer searches months ago, Miller’s family members had actually walked past the residence where Miller was found near Turtle Creek. They know of no reason why Miller would have gone there. She says police say the house has been vacant “since October,” although she said authorities won’t give other details, including who discovered Miller’s body and what were the circumstances behind the discovery.

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Madison police authorities and Dane County police told the family on Sunday they thought they’d found Miller’s remains, but they didn’t confirm the discovery to the family until Monday, Duerst says. It was the first time the family has heard from police at all since mid-July, when police apparently cancelled a meeting they’d planned with Miller’s family to give a case update.

Duerst says as of Tuesday afternoon, the family had not seen any images of Miller’s remains, nor had authorities asked the family to identify Miller, whose remains have been in Dane County since Monday. She said the family plans to give continued updates on a Facebook page named Justice for Christopher Miller.

Big Radio has asked the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office for comment and an update on the case.