Missing TN Man Rickey Miller ID’d As Body Found Monday In Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, TN (THECOUNT) — The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) has identified 61-year-old Rickey Miller as the individual reported missing last week whose body was located deceased on February 2, 2026, in the 7700 block of Brainerd Road.

According to CPD statements, the Missing Persons Unit located the body of the deceased man in the specified area. The individual was confirmed to be Rickey Miller, who had been the subject of a missing person investigation originating from the East Brainerd Road vicinity.

The sequence of events began on January 26, 2026, when Rickey Miller‘s vehicle was discovered abandoned in the roadway at his apartment complex. Friends reported to authorities that they had last spoken with or seen Miller on Sunday, January 25, 2026. The Chattanooga Police Department issued a public request for assistance in locating him shortly thereafter, describing him as 5’8″ tall, weighing approximately 215 pounds, bald, with brown eyes. His last known address was associated with the 7710 East Brainerd Road location in Chattanooga.

The Missing Persons Unit continued efforts to find Miller following the abandonment of his vehicle and the lack of contact from him. On February 2, 2026, officers from the unit discovered the body on Brainerd Road, an area near his reported residence and apartment complex.

CPD Homicide investigators responded to the scene as part of standard protocol for such discoveries. A preliminary investigation conducted at the location did not reveal any obvious signs of trauma on the body that would indicate the death was caused by another person or foul play.

The cause of death remains pending determination by forensic examination. The Hamilton County Medical Examiner has taken custody of the body for further analysis and autopsy procedures to establish the official cause and manner of death.

The Chattanooga Police Department has not released additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding the discovery or any potential contributing factors at this time. No arrests have been made, and the investigation continues under the oversight of the Missing Persons Unit and Homicide investigators.

This case follows the department’s protocol for handling missing persons reports that transition to death investigations. Initial missing person alerts emphasized public assistance, with a contact number provided for tips: (423) 698-2525. That line remains active for any information related to the incident.

Local media outlets, including Local 3 News, Chattanoogan.com, and WDEF, reported on both the initial missing person status and the subsequent update regarding the body’s discovery and identification. The City of Chattanooga‘s official website also carried the original missing person announcement dated January 29, 2026, detailing the vehicle abandonment and last contact date.

Authorities have stressed that the preliminary findings are based on initial scene assessment only, and full conclusions await results from the medical examiner’s office. No further public statements have indicated suspicion of criminal activity based on the available evidence to date.

The Hamilton County Medical Examiner‘s office will handle the postmortem examination, which may include toxicology screening, pathology review, and other tests as deemed necessary to determine the precise cause of death.

This development concludes the active search phase for Rickey Miller but shifts the focus to the medical and investigative review process. The Chattanooga Police Department continues to manage the case file accordingly.

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