Cleanup Paused at Billings Home After Discovery of Missing Man's Remains

Authorities are allowing homeowners time to grieve before completing yard cleanup.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:04pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled piece of fabric, such as a shirt or jacket, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying a stark, gritty, and investigative aesthetic without depicting any violence or victims.The grim discovery of human remains in a Billings backyard has prompted a pause in the cleanup efforts, allowing time for the homeowners to process the trauma.Billings Today

Cleanup efforts have been temporarily halted at a Billings, Montana home where the remains of 56-year-old Ronald Lander were discovered in the backyard in March. Lander had been reported missing in 2021, and Billings Code Enforcement found his remains while clearing the property of junk and debris. Officials say they want to give the homeowners time to rest before finishing the cleanup work.

Why it matters

The discovery of Lander's remains has raised questions about what happened to the missing man and how long his body went unnoticed in the home's backyard. The pause in the cleanup allows the homeowners privacy to process this tragic situation before the property is fully cleared.

The details

Billings Code Enforcement officers were at the home on the 3200 block of Third Avenue North in March when they found Lander's remains in the backyard. Lander had been reported missing in 2021. Code Enforcement Manager Tina Hoeger said her team will return to clear the backyard of junk, trash and debris, but they wanted to give the homeowners some time to rest before completing the job.

  • Lander was reported missing in 2021.
  • Lander's remains were discovered in the home's backyard in March 2026.

The players

Ronald Lander

A 56-year-old man who was reported missing in 2021 and whose remains were later found in the backyard of a Billings home.

Tina Hoeger

The Code Enforcement Manager in Billings, Montana who is overseeing the cleanup of the property where Lander's remains were discovered.

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What they’re saying

“We wanted to give the homeowners a bit of time to rest before completing the job.”

— Tina Hoeger, Code Enforcement Manager

What’s next

Billings Code Enforcement plans to return to the property to complete the yard cleanup, but they are allowing the homeowners some time to grieve before finishing the work.

The takeaway

This tragic discovery highlights the importance of thorough investigations into missing persons cases, as well as the need for compassion and sensitivity when dealing with the aftermath of such heartbreaking situations.