MITCHELL, S.D. – The Sanborn County States Attorney’s Office says skeletal remains found last August are those of 45-year-old Eugene Prins who’s been missing since March 26th, 2020 in rural Sanborn County.
In a news release Monday, State’s Attorney Jeff Larson said results from DNA testing confirmed the skeletal remains were in fact Eugene Prins. There’s no evidence of any criminal activity regarding the case.
Authorities believe on the evening of his disappearance Prins, had been with a good friend running some errands, and subsequently they consumed alcohol. Later in the evening Prins’ friend stopped at a rural Woonsocket residence and went inside.
Prins stayed in the vehicle reportedly asleep. At some point in time, evidence indicated Prins left the vehicle and walked south down the gravel road from the residence. After walking down the road and being seen by witnesses in a north bound vehicle, Prins left the roadway.
In August of 2022, skeletal remains were located approximately one mile and a half west of where evidence indicated Prins was last known to be on the night of his disappearance. Anthropology testing was done on the remains, and it was determined the remains were human, male, and in the correct height and age range for Prins. Subsequent forensic testing was done and determined they were the remains of Eugene Prins.
