A massive manhunt , touched off more than a year ago when a California man is believed to have killed his family , ended Sunday when authorities announced they 'd found the man 's remains . Shane Miller , the prime suspect in the deaths of his wife and two young daughters , was recently featured on CNN 's `` The Hunt With John Walsh . '' His remains were found not far from where Miller 's truck was located in Petrolia , California , last year , said Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko . It was not immediately clear how long they had been there . The remains were reported Friday on the banks of the Mattole River , according to a statement from the Sheriff 's Office , and were identified through dental records . Miller was featured in Episode 1 of `` The Hunt . '' Authorities had been looking for him since May 2013 . On May 7 , 2013 , a 911 dispatcher got a call from the Miller residence . The sounds of breathing and crying , then loud bangs , could be heard before the line went dead . When police arrived at the home , they found the bodies of Miller 's wife , Sandy Miller , and the couple 's two daughters -- Shelby , 8 , and Shasta , 5 -- with multiple gunshot wounds . Shane Miller quickly became the lead suspect in the case . After the killings , he , his truck and the family dog went missing . Miller was later spotted by an ex-girlfriend in Petrolia , sparking the manhunt . He ditched his truck and authorities had thought he fled on foot into the mountainous forests of California 's `` Lost Coast . '' His remains were found about 1,500 feet from Miller 's vehicle , the Sheriff 's Office said . Near them , authorities recovered a handgun and loaded magazines . The ammunition in the magazines was consistent with ammunition found in Miller 's truck , and at the family 's slaying scene , the Sheriff 's Office said . `` The Hunt , '' which premiered on CNN on July 13 , aims to expose stories of ongoing criminal investigations of fugitives and expand the search internationally . Last week , a 32-year-old suspected sex offender featured on the show died in a shootout in New York City as police closed in . Investigators said they sifted through hundreds of tips in their search for that suspect , Charles Mozdir , but a phone call they got during `` The Hunt '' helped them crack the case . `` It 's been quite a week , and I think lots of people are relieved that both of these guys are off the streets , '' Walsh said Sunday . Join `` The Hunt '' for more fugitives .
A pistol and loaded magazine were found near the body . ` ` It 's been quite a while , '' says Michael Walsh of CNN 's ` ` The Hunt '' Shane Donovan 's remains were identified through dental records . He was the prime suspect in the murder of his wife and two children .