Disney Mouseketeer Dennis Day Confirmed Dead Following 2018 Disappearance
June 7 2019, Updated 2:07 p.m. ET
One of the original Disney mouseketeers, Dennis Day, has been confirmed dead nearly one year after his shocking disappearance, RadarOnline.com has learned.
On Thursday, June 6, the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office officially confirmed it was Day's body that had been located in April.
Day was a member of Disney's Mickey Mouse Club for two years in the 1950s alongside Annette Funicello. Day first went missing in July 2018.
Following his disappearance, police searched the Phoenix, Oregon home the former Disney star shared with his husband, Ernie Caswell.
The child star's remains were difficult to identify due to the state in which they were found, the medical examiner's office confirmed in a statement.
Day's disappearance came to light after his husband, who was in the hospital receiving treatment for dementia, realized "Dennis hadn't come visit him in a few weeks." He asked hospital staffers to call police, but was unable to alert Day's family because he couldn't remember their contact information.
DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.
Day's family released a statement on Thursday on the Facebook account that was previously been set up after he went missing.
"We are truly thankful to all of you for your love and support. Please keep Ernie in your prayers during this extremely difficult time," the statement read.
"Our family is truly thankful to the Oregon State Police for helping to bring closure to our family so that we can finally lay Dennis to rest. We love you Brother & Uncle Dennis!"
Oregon State Police have confirmed that Day's death remains under investigation.