I've copied a save (so it's available if of interest) where my character has encountered "a reemiläis peasant" out in the wild and zoomed in. I'm quite sure the group of people seen to the SE are part of an earlier robber quest posse (the rest are probably just outside the visible area).
The group moves away to the SE (I've move two steps towards them and they move away at the same rate). I've encountered this behavior before, including refusals to be hired until "X" has returned, where "X" wasn't killed, but simply did not return after being dismissed.
I'm not sure of which hireling group this is, as I can't keep track of them, but it doesn't have to be the latest one (but it can be).
Obviously, the buggers should have returned home a long time ago...