Found Deceased TN - David Riemens, 60, Watertown, 8 Aug 2012

[TexasT]

There has not been much here locally after David’s memorial service. I honestly believe he died from a medical event when walking home.

I would think that if there was any evidence of foul play it would have been announced or made public. I would still like to know what was found with him as far as clothing, wallet, keys, personal effects, etc. I believe a lot could be learned by what was found with him.

Cutter,
If there is no longer a crime stoppers reward sounds like a logical conclusion . Thanks for the reply .

 

[Hastings21]

This is a very strange case to me. Usually, from what I have seen in previous cases, when cases are this quiet, LE are involved are relatives and friends of LE. You find a missing man's skull, but nothing has ever come of it. No details or inquiries. Too strange. There is very little out there. Could he have been an informant?

 

[Hastings21]

Does anyone know if he had difficulty with his memory or any Alzheimer's rumors?

 

[cutter99]

Does anyone know if he had difficulty with his memory or any Alzheimer's rumors?

I do not recall anyone ever saying anything about David having dementia or Alzheimer’s. He was about to leave on a trip to Michigan from Tennessee solo, so I would think if there was any question of issues with dementia or Alzheimer’s he would have not been traveling alone. A Silver Alert was never issued either, which is typically done when a senior or dementia or Alzheimer’s victim is missing.

I do remember it being said he was having some issues physically that were attributed to his years of working as a stone mason, which would be understandable for someone who worked with heavy things like rocks for years. I cannot remember specifically what those issues were, say back issues or issues with his hands or arms or shoulders.

 

[cutter99]

This is a very strange case to me. Usually, from what I have seen in previous cases, when cases are this quiet, LE are involved are relatives and friends of LE. You find a missing man's skull, but nothing has ever come of it. No details or inquiries. Too strange. There is very little out there. Could he have been an informant?

I doubt greatly that he was an informant. Watertown is a very hippy, artsy town, that is very small and very tight knit. The immediate areas around Watertown are similar. Personally, I don’t see it as the type of place that would need informants as there just is not that type of crime there.

Meth, yes, but not in a large scale distribution way. Pot, yes, but again I would think it was more for personal consumption. Pills are big everywhere here, but I can’t see Watertown being any worse than say Lebanon, TN, the closest larger town to Watertown.

There are some very eclectic small towns not far from Watertown, including an artist’s commune and a LBGTQ community. There is also a fairly well known ashram not far from Watertown, within a 45 minute drive

Out of the Woods

Yoga&Meditation

I recall that David lived in the artist’s commune when he first relocated to TN.

I have been in areas here that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. You can tell something is just not right. Watertown is NOT one of those areas.

If David was an informant, I think it would have come out at some point. Although based on the fact that nothing has been released about an autopsy or cause of death, I could be wrong.

 

[mtnlites]

This case still troubles me. I know the public isn't really owed any explanation, but this was a fairly high profile case, what with the DISAPPEARED episode, and it seems like everything just went on complete lockdown after his body was discovered. There have been zero updates since the memorial service.

Even though it's all just conjecture, I no longer think it was a crime. The "old man with the house" may very well have been shady, but I don't think it had any bearing on his disappearance. I'm starting to think that when he reached the dollar store he started feeling ill. Sick enough that he didn't feel safe enough to drive. Rather than "bother" anyone at the store or in the parking lot, perhaps he thought he could just make it home and walk back out for his truck later. And then perhaps he suffered a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism along the way.

He wouldn't necessarily have to have had any previous signs or symptoms. I had a stroke last year at the age of 39 and I never saw it coming. You can feel "off" for quite awhile before it gets bad, ie, he could've made it several miles before dying. I'd considered suicide, which would definitely explain the silence from family and friends, but it just feels so wrong to suggest that.

Wish we'd hear something, though. A lot of community effort went into looking for him. There are probably lots of people feeling without closure.

 

[cutter99]

This case still troubles me. I know the public isn't really owed any explanation, but this was a fairly high profile case, what with the DISAPPEARED episode, and it seems like everything just went on complete lockdown after his body was discovered. There have been zero updates since the memorial service.

Even though it's all just conjecture, I no longer think it was a crime. The "old man with the house" may very well have been shady, but I don't think it had any bearing on his disappearance. I'm starting to think that when he reached the dollar store he started feeling ill. Sick enough that he didn't feel safe enough to drive. Rather than "bother" anyone at the store or in the parking lot, perhaps he thought he could just make it home and walk back out for his truck later. And then perhaps he suffered a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism along the way.

He wouldn't necessarily have to have had any previous signs or symptoms. I had a stroke last year at the age of 39 and I never saw it coming. You can feel "off" for quite awhile before it gets bad, ie, he could've made it several miles before dying. I'd considered suicide, which would definitely explain the silence from family and friends, but it just feels so wrong to suggest that.

Wish we'd hear something, though. A lot of community effort went into looking for him. There are probably lots of people feeling without closure.

Excellent post mtnlites! I agree with everything you have written here, plus will add something.

I have wondered if those closest to David don’t feel some sort of guilt. He was found very close to his home, a distance of which he could see where he lived, depending on the rolling hills in that area. One of his friends made a public statement saying they did not search the area where he was found because it was private property and they had not asked permission. In Tennessee, it is fairly easy to find the owner of a property and their contact information. Based on my interactions with the locals here, I would be dumbfounded if someone denied permission to search for a missing persons on a property.

I think one of the reasons this was not done was because everyone assumed he left the Dollar General in another vehicle, and perhaps he did. I still very firmly believe he was walking home, whether it be because he was not feeling well or having issues with his truck. He could have gotten a ride from a stranger, who turned off the main road before David’s end destination and dropped him off partway there. Where he was found would be a shortcut between the Dollar General and where he lived.

The heat here right now is absolutely oppressive. I believe it was the same type of heat when David disappeared. That, combined with potential health issues, could have certainly caused a fatal health event.

This is a case where when they heard hoof beats, they assumed zebras and not horses. I am not saying this to critical or judgmental, but am hoping others can learn from this.

 

[ZaZara]

Excellent post mtnlites! I agree with everything you have written here, plus will add something.

I have wondered if those closest to David don’t feel some sort of guilt. He was found very close to his home, a distance of which he could see where he lived, depending on the rolling hills in that area. One of his friends made a public statement saying they did not search the area where he was found because it was private property and they had not asked permission. In Tennessee, it is fairly easy to find the owner of a property and their contact information. Based on my interactions with the locals here, I would be dumbfounded if someone denied permission to search for a missing persons on a property.

I think one of the reasons this was not done was because everyone assumed he left the Dollar General in another vehicle, and perhaps he did. I still very firmly believe he was walking home, whether it be because he was not feeling well or having issues with his truck. He could have gotten a ride from a stranger, who turned off the main road before David’s end destination and dropped him off partway there. Where he was found would be a shortcut between the Dollar General and where he lived.

The heat here right now is absolutely oppressive. I believe it was the same type of heat when David disappeared. That, combined with potential health issues, could have certainly caused a fatal health event.

This is a case where when they heard hoof beats, they assumed zebras and not horses. I am not saying this to critical or judgmental, but am hoping others can learn from this.

Wallet, money, car keys.... I suppose there is no news about them? Still, it would make a huge difference to know if these were found on or near the remains. Or if they are still missing.

Very strange that LE keeps silent about these crucial items.

 

[cutter99]

Wallet, money, car keys.... I suppose there is no news about them? Still, it would make a huge difference to know if these were found on or near the remains. Or if they are still missing.

Very strange that LE keeps silent about these crucial items.

Yes, have never heard or read anywhere about what was found with the body. Obviously there must of been something identifying with his body, because they knew right away it was him and after the amount of time he was missing, it had to be something very specific. Clothing? I doubt there would have been much left after the amount of time. Wallet? Possibly, especially if it were not made from leather. Keys? Most definitely something that would not biodegrade with time.

I did just check online and the blog for the show “Disappeared” has an update saying that David’s remains were found in January 2018 and they were waiting to hear about autopsy results and would update when they were in.

Updates - Disappeared

2 1/2 years is a long time to wait for autopsy results.

The Facebook page set up to find him has had no updates since the memorial service in 2018.

 

[ZaZara]

Watertown Mystery: 60-year-old man’s killer still at large 8 years later | WKRN News 2

www.wkrn.com › unsolved-tennessee
7 aug. 2020 - Eight years have passed since David Riemens, 60, was last seen alive in Wilson County. Today, the killer is still at large. Riemens was a ...


........ access denied


Can someone please read this and copy what is new?
A video was posted a week ago that I cannot access either, so frustrating!

I was waiting for news about the car keys and the wallet, and not quite expecting a possible killer at large. Dear me, this better be good, in the sense that it is substantiated.

 

[TexasT]

Investigators still haven’t been able to find the person responsible for Riemens’ murder, but they say they certainly haven’t given up.

“The family of Mr. Riemans deserves an answer and that’s one thing we’re trying to do can you make sure we’re diligent in trying to do that,” said Captain Moore.

Anyone with information on what might have happened to Riemens is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (615) 444-5245. Tips can remain anonymous.

MURDER ? Holy heck why did they pretend it was natural causes for two years ?

 

[scriabina]

Can someone please read this and copy what is new?
www.wkrn.com › unsolved-tennessee
7 aug. 2020 - Eight years have passed since David Riemens, 60, was last seen alive in Wilson County. Today, the killer is still at large.

Seems like clickbait. No evidence provided in article that supports murder. Only info I don't remember is that his skull was found 50 yards from his body. Had that info been released previously?

His skull was found first and the rest of his body was discovered about 50 yards away a few days later.

“At this point, we’re trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle of what happened to him,” said Captain Moore. "It's very much still an active case."

 

[ZaZara]

Investigators still haven’t been able to find the person responsible for Riemens’ murder, but they say they certainly haven’t given up.

“The family of Mr. Riemans deserves an answer and that’s one thing we’re trying to do can you make sure we’re diligent in trying to do that,” said Captain Moore.

Anyone with information on what might have happened to Riemens is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (615) 444-5245. Tips can remain anonymous.

MURDER ? Holy heck why did they pretend it was natural causes for two years ?

Seems like clickbait. No evidence provided in article that supports murder. Only info I don't remember is that his skull was found 50 yards from his body. Had that info been released previously?

His skull was found first and the rest of his body was discovered about 50 yards away a few days later.

“At this point, we’re trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle of what happened to him,” said Captain Moore. "It's very much still an active case."

Hence The Silence of Wallet & Car Keys...

I've been going over the posts since David was found and LE specifically mentions 'clothing' as a means of identification, and what people remember David was wearing on the day he disappeared.

IMHO wallet & car keys are not clothes. This makes me wonder once again if those items were found with the remains.


As for the remains, those were found 'scattered'. This might be due to wild life in the area. If only he had been found earlier!

I cannot access all sources due to geoblocking, so maybe there is a previous report with the distances, but it wasn't mentioned specifically on this thread.

 

[cutter99]

There has been nothing in any other local media that I have seen here stating that there is a murderer on the loose.

Bones can very easily be scattered by wildlife. We have game cams set up in various locations on our farm, and have coyotes, bob cats, deer, armadillos, raccoons, opossum and black headed vultures on them. Coyotes will drag off anything they can eat. I would not have expected his remains to have been found intact after the length of time David had been missing.

That article came out right around the anniversary of David’s disappearance, and I would assume that is a way to sensationalize it. Sadly!

There are a couple things I’d like to know. 1) What was the cause of death, if that has been able to be determined? 2) What was found with the body? Clothing? Keys? Wallet?

 

[TexasT]

The only way they would be able to determine a murder with some scattered bones in my opinion , would be
Obvious gun shot to skull , ligature Belt ect around neck area .

If it was determined to be natural causes, why is Captain Moore saying it’s still very much an “active case ?? “

 

[TexasT]

Skull found on fireplace mantle in Tennessee identified as missing man

Not related but , what ???

 

[ZaZara]

There has been nothing in any other local media that I have seen here stating that there is a murderer on the loose.

Bones can very easily be scattered by wildlife. We have game cams set up in various locations on our farm, and have coyotes, bob cats, deer, armadillos, raccoons, opossum and black headed vultures on them. Coyotes will drag off anything they can eat. I would not have expected his remains to have been found intact after the length of time David had been missing.

That article came out right around the anniversary of David’s disappearance, and I would assume that is a way to sensationalize it. Sadly!

There are a couple things I’d like to know. 1) What was the cause of death, if that has been able to be determined? 2) What was found with the body? Clothing? Keys? Wallet?

Any updates, @cutter99 ? Clothes, wallet + money, car keys?

 

[cutter99]

Absolutely nothing! Absolute silence!

Part of me thinks we will never hear anything else.

 

[ZaZara]

Absolutely nothing! Absolute silence!

Part of me thinks we will never hear anything else.

Would that be legal, I wonder?

 

[cutter99]

Would that be legal, I wonder?

I don’t know that there would be anything illegal about it. There has never been an officially named suspect by LE. There has never been any charges filed against anyone in the case that I am aware of. There were tons of rumors that accused various people of harming David but no formal people of interest or charges, and the rumors were never based on anything concrete.

I’m also not aware what the autopsy report officially said, but I would think that if LE felt there was any sort of danger to the general public, due to something found in the autopsy that indicated foul play, it would have been made very well known to the general public. Had there been proof of a violent death at the hands of someone else, why not come right out and say “Well folks, there is a killer in our midst”???

There is something that bothers me about the article written quoting Captain Moore. The quotes were old, taken from years before, and it has never been announced to the general public that David was “murdered”. The article itself seems to be very amateurishly written with no current quotes from people who were close to David.

As far as the skull being found 50 feet from the rest of the remains, that is absolutely no surprise. This area has copious amounts of wildlife that will do that. Coyotes, bob cats, raccoons, black headed buzzards will all eat and scatter remains.

Let me give you the perfect example- In August, our next door neighbor had a 500 lb. calf die along the fence line to our property. At the time, the said 81 year old neighbor had COVID, so we let him know when we found the calf, which was within a very short time of the calf dying. The carcass was scavenged to just the backbone within about 3 days. Another neighbor called us and wanted to know why there were so many coyotes howling after dark on the hill across the lane from her house- which was exactly where the calf was. But, the carcass was gone so quickly it never had time to develop a stench, in Tennessee, in August! The hottest month of the year here! There were scavenger birds on the carcass as wel.

The take away is that there are still no answers. The people close to David have never seen fit to make a public statement concerning his autopsy results or a possible cause of death. Now we need to ask ourselves why!