May 13, 11:03 a.m.

The following statement was read by Taylor County Sheriff Bruce Daniels at a 10 a.m. press conference Tuesday, May 13. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

Good Morning! Thank you for being here today as well as for all of the assistance the media has, and continues to provide, law enforcement in furthering this investigation. My name is Bruce Daniels. I am the Sheriff with the Taylor County Sheriffs Department. To my right is Taylor County District Attorney Karl Kelz.
I have asked you all here today so that I can provide you with information related to the disappearance and recovery of Jean Viken, the 39 year old Medford woman that has been missing since January 29, 2008.
I have prepared a statement that I would like to read in its entirety without interruption. Once I have completed presenting this material I have time for a few questions. At the conclusion of this conference I will also provide you with a copy of the materials presented. ."
On January 30, 2008 the Taylor County Sheriffs Department received a call for service related to the whereabouts of Jean A. Viken, a 39 year old mother of four, who was missing from her Town of Holway, Taylor County home. Deputies responded to the home located at W8948 Elm Ave. Owen, WI. On arrival officers noted that there was a pan on the kitchen stove that appeared to have been cooking for a lengthy period of time. The purse that Jean Viken normally took with her whenever she went anywhere was also located in the house and the 2004 pewter in color Chevrolet Venture van bearing Wisconsin registration 855 HDH
was missing. The initial observations of the officers led them to request additional assistance of investigative staff.
Jean Viken was entered into the national network as a missing person that night. Her van was also entered into NCIC as missing. Investigative inspection of the property provided several pieces of evidence that are currently under analysis with the Wisconsin State Crime Lab.
On February 6, 2008 the van was located in Ashland County. At approximately 9:00 P.M. on February 6, 2008 Sawyer County officials advised that they had received a call related to this vehicle and further investigation revealed that it was actually located in Ashland County. Detectives from all three jurisdictions responded to the scene. Ultimately significant evidence was collected related to this matter and is currently with the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory for forensic evaluation.
On May 10,2008 at approximately noon Taylor County was notified by Sawyer County that what appeared to be human remains were located in their county by two fishermen. The remains were located in an area approximately 10 miles north and 2.3 miles east of Hawkins, WI. Initial indications were that clothing at the scene was consistent with that suspected to have been worn by Jean on January 29, 2008 when she went missing.
Taylor County Detectives responded to this scene where they met with Sawyer County authorities along with the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, Wisconsin DNR and Wisconsin State Patrol. The scene was documented and processed and the human remains were turned over to Taylor County for transport to the University Hospital in Madison for a forensic autopsy. Crime scene specialists discovered and collected numerous other items of forensic value both at the scene in Sawyer County and during the
autopsy. Forensic analysis of those items is taking place at this time.
Forensic medical specialists did confirm that the remains recovered on May 10,2008 in Sawyer County were in fact those of Jean A. Viken the 39 year old mother of 4 who had been missing from Taylor County since January 29, 2008. Analysis also indicated that the cause of death was by multiple gunshot wounds.
There are currently several persons of interest. We will not comment further as to the identities of those individuals. Evidence recovered, information received and the location where Jean's remains were located further re-enforce involvement of these people.
At this time I will try to answer your questions one at a time. If you do have a question you would like to ask please raise your hand and wait for me to acknowledge you.

Question and Answer
Once again thank you for being here today. Throughout the term of this investigation Taylor County has been thankful for the support of our community, media outlets, and multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. I would simply like to assure our community that we will continue to leave no stone untumed in our efforts to bring this matter to a conclusion and express a very sincere gratitude on the part of the Taylor County
Sheriff s Department to our entire community for the assistance and support provided over the past months. Our condolences go out to Jean's children and family.
As you leave please pick up one of the media packets we have prepared for you.

May 12, 12:25 p.m.

Taylor County to hold media conference on Tuesday, regarding Viken

Taylor County Sheriff Bruce Daniels will hold a media conference at the Taylor County Courthouse at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13. Information from that news conference will be posted as it becomes available.

May 12, 11:51 a.m.

Gunshot killed Jean Viken

Fishermen find her body in Sawyer County over weekend

On May 10, 2008 at approximately noon, the Taylor County Sheriff's Department was notified by the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department that what appeared to be human remains were located earlier that morning in Sawyer County by two fishermen. Initial indications were that clothing at the scene was consistent with that suspected to have been worn by Jean Viken on January 29, 2008 when she went missing.
Taylor County detectives responded to an area approximately 10 miles north and 2.5 miles east of Hawkins where they met with Sawyer County authorities.
The Wisconsin State Crime Lab, Wisconsin DNR and Wisconsin State Patrol also responded to process and record the scene.
Ultimately the human remains were recovered and turned over to Taylor County for transport to University Hospital in Madison for forensic post-mortem analysis.
Forensic medical specialists did confirm that the remains recovered on May 10, 2008 in Sawyer County were in fact those of Jean A. Viken, the 39-year-old mother of four children, who has been missing from Taylor County since January 29, 2008. Analysis also indicated that the probable cause of death was by gunshot wound.
Crime scene specialists discovered and collected numerous items of forensic value both at the scene in Sawyer County as well as during the autopsy. Forensic analysis of those items is taking place at this time.
The Taylor County Sheriff's Department, along with numerous other local, State and Federal law enforcement agencies, continues to aggressively investigate this matter as a homicide.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.