Jeremiah Button's Hidden Life: Three Years in a Makeshift Bunker Near Ice Age Trail

**Wringle, WI** - In a startling discovery that reads like a plot from a survivalist novel, Jeremiah Button, a fugitive on the run for child sex crimes, was found living in a self-constructed bunker near the Ice Age Trail in Wringle, Wisconsin. This story, as recounted by local hunter Thomas Nelson, paints a vivid picture of survival, secrecy, and a life lived on the fringes of society.

For nearly three and a half years, Button resided behind a nondescript wooden door, hidden within an embankment, creating what can only be described as a clandestine fortress. His living quarters, discovered by Nelson on August 9th, were an organized testament to human ingenuity and desperation. Inside, Button had amassed a collection of items pilfered from the nearby Marathon County landfill, transforming discarded goods into essentials for survival.

The interior of the bunker was surprisingly well-equipped. "You can see all his food on the left," described Nelson, detailing the setup. The faint sound of a radio playing provided an eerie backdrop to the scene. Button had managed to outfit his hideout with electricity, a water filtration system, LED lights, and even cooling fans, all powered by a trio of car batteries, which in turn were charged by solar panels mounted on the bunker's roof. Additionally, a makeshift generator, ingeniously powered by a bicycle, was used during less sunny days to keep his electronics running, including laptops and iPads.

This setup not only allowed Button to survive but to thrive in isolation. "A space that he was able to survive the winters, obviously, and keep himself warm," Nelson observed, noting the efficient use of space and resources. From bug spray to a TV antenna for news, Button had nearly everything he needed to sustain a solitary existence.

The backstory to this hermit-like lifestyle is as dark as it is compelling. Charged in 2014 with multiple sex crimes against children, Button was released on a $25,000 bail, paid by his parents. It was during this time of freedom that he began constructing his escape from justice - literally digging his own hideout. "He said the initial build took him from the time he got out for the time that he disappeared," explained Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jeff Stefonek, detailing how Button fled just two weeks before his scheduled jury trial.

The discovery of Button's lair came when Thomas Nelson, driven by curiosity after spotting the bunker's entrance months prior, decided to investigate. "I pushed the door open and I look inside and I can see canned foods, there're little storage boxes," Nelson recounted. The encounter with Button was surreal; there he was, "slaying in his bed," as Nelson described, creating a moment of sheer shock for the hunter who "was shaking when I went in, I was shaking when I went out."

After Nelson alerted the authorities, a 20-minute standoff ensued, culminating in Button's surrender. Deputy Matt Kecker remarked that Button seemed almost relieved at the interaction, perhaps starved for human contact after years of solitude.

This case not only sheds light on one man's attempt to evade the law but also prompts broader questions about surveillance, justice, and the human capacity for survival against all odds. As Button's story unfolds in the courts, the bunker near the Ice Age Trail stands as a stark reminder of the lengths to which one might go to disappear from society, and the vigilance of those who would bring them back.