UPDATED Thursday, November 12, 2009 --- 7:35 a.m.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (AP) -- Authorities have a preliminary cause of death for the soldier found dead in the Chippewa County Forest -- hypothermia due to exposure.

The sheriff's department says in a news release Wednesday that although they have a preliminary cause of death, the results of toxicology tests are still pending.

The body of 20-year-old Russell Plummer of Cornell was taken Wednesday to the Ramsey County medical examiner in Minnesota for further study.

Plummer's body was found Tuesday evening about 30 to 40 yards from his vehicle. His family reported him missing after he failed to show up for National Guard duty over the weekend.

Plummer had returned home on Oct. 21 from a military training session in Maryland.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Posted Tuesday, November 10, 2009 --- 10:04 p.m.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (AP) -- The body of a 20-year-old soldier who failed to show up for National Guard duty over the weekend has been found in the Chippewa County Forest.

Chippewa County Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk says the body of Russell Plummer of Cornell was found Tuesday evening about 30 to 40 yards from his vehicle.

Earlier in the day, the sheriff's office had sent a search plane over the forest while Plummer's family joined the ground search. They found the soldier's car about 3 p.m.

Plummer had returned home on Oct. 21 from a military training session in Maryland. His mother says he often stayed with friends while in the area, but after he missed Guard duty she became concerned and reported him missing.

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Information from: The Chippewa Herald, http://www.chippewa.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)