Indiana Dunes National Park, nestled along Lake Michigan, attracts visitors with its scenic beauty and diverse landscapes. However, beneath its serene façade lies a collection of unsolved disappearances, turning nature’s haven into a landscape of mystery. Let’s explore ten baffling missing person cases that have occurred in or near Indiana Dunes National Park, where the truth remains elusive.
10. Michael Steven Bickel
In March 2012, Michael Steven Bickel vanished after being last seen in Portage, Indiana, during a trip to Lake Michigan. His car was found soon after his disappearance. Adding to the mystery, Bickel left behind two suicide notes, one indicating a plan to swim 30 miles from Portage Lakefront Park to Chicago’s Navy Pier. Authorities speculated he drowned in Lake Michigan.
Attempting such an extensive swim is highly unusual, and the discovery that Bickel was missing a toenail on his right foot further complicates identifying any recovered remains. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unsettling.
9. Mary Jo Klen
Mary Jo Klen disappeared in 2000 from Valparaiso, near Indiana Dunes National Park, and her fate remains a mystery. At 40 years old, Klen’s case has yielded little information over the past two decades, deepening the enigma of her disappearance.
The absence of details about her clothing or personal items at the time of her disappearance has complicated efforts to identify any potential remains. A possible lead emerged with the discovery of a Jane Doe in Indiana a month after Klen went missing, with similar physical characteristics. However, without more clues, confirming Klen’s fate remains impossible.
8. Unidentified 2007 Victim
In April 2007, park rangers found the body of an unidentified man in one of the rental houses within Indiana Dunes National Park. The man was facing serious charges related to child pornography and bomb-making. The Secret Service had previously searched his property, seizing his computer and other related items.
It appeared that the man was using the rental houses to evade law enforcement. Whether he rented the property legally or trespassed remains unclear. Given the gravity of the charges, he had a strong motive to avoid capture.
7. Bryce Dunfee
Bryce Dunfee, 22, from Indianapolis, disappeared in 2022 after falling through Lake Michigan ice near West Beach. He was with friends when an ice shelf collapsed, and they couldn’t rescue him due to strong waves. Authorities warned against exploring ice shelves due to their instability.
His case underscores the danger of exploring such natural formations, which, while protecting shorelines from erosion, can be hazardous if not solid. Dunfee’s tragic accident highlights the need for caution in outdoor exploration.
6. Ann Miller, Patricia Blough, and Renee Bruhl
On July 2, 1966, Ann Miller, Patricia Blough, and Renee Bruhl vanished after visiting Indiana Dunes National Park. The trio was last seen on the beach, leaving their belongings behind as they entered Lake Michigan. A week-long search by police, the Coast Guard, and volunteers yielded no results.
Witnesses reported seeing the women talking to a man operating a boat, sparking theories about foul play. Each woman also faced personal issues, including connections to the horse market and gambling debts, potentially leading to their disappearance or a staged death. The mystery surrounding their disappearance persists to this day.
5. Johnice “China” White
On August 7, 1995, Johnice “China” White went missing from her home near Indiana Dunes National Park. The following day, her body was discovered in a secluded area of the park in Gary, Indiana. Park ranger notes confirm the coordination with Gary police in investigating the offense.
In 2015, Barry Taylor was questioned about White’s death. White, a Wirt High School student, disappeared shortly before her 15th birthday. The community searched for her before her body was found at the bottom of a hill with her bike nearby, deepening the tragedy.
4. Roxanne Shah
Roxanne Shah, an Indianapolis resident known for her love of camping and hiking, disappeared in February 2011. Her minivan was found in the parking lot of Mt. Baldy at Indiana Dunes National Park. Despite her passion for the outdoors, she had no camping equipment, and temperatures were freezing.
Her husband initially thought she might have gone to Chicago, as spontaneous trips were common for her. However, in October 2011, an unidentified body, believed to be Shah, was found on one of the park’s beaches. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning without evidence of foul play.
3. Martha Nehring Pilnok
Martha Nehring Pilnok disappeared on January 15, 1944, in Valparaiso, about twenty minutes from Indiana Dunes National Park. She lived on a farm with her husband and father. Martha, standing 5’2″ and weighing between 130 and 150 pounds, also used the name Martha Lena Pilnok.
In 1965, her daughter reported not seeing her mother in over 25 years. In 1958, Martha’s husband filed for divorce, claiming she was alive and living out of state. Martha never contacted her family after 1944, leaving her fate shrouded in mystery.
2. 1989 Burns Harbor John Doe
On March 28, 1989, the body of a 17- to 25-year-old John Doe was found in a wooded area near Indiana Dunes National Park. He was wearing green/aqua shorts, Fila tennis shoes, and a baseball cap with either the Rochester Red Wings or Detroit Red Wings logo. Cigarette holders, an empty Coca-Cola bottle, and a bottle with white residue were near his body.
Authorities believe he was struck by a large vehicle and dragged off the road. Despite having well-maintained teeth, he had cosmetic caps on his front teeth. His identity and the exact circumstances of his death remain unknown, leaving another cold case haunting the region.
1. 1945 Porter County Jane Doe
In 1945, a hunter discovered the remains of a Jane Doe in Porter County, near Indiana Dunes National Park. She was believed to be under 60 years old, 5’6″ tall, and was wearing a bluish-gray coat and nylons. Her teeth had gold fillings. Only skeletal remains were found, suggesting she had been dead for about a year.
In 2021, an attempt to exhume her remains led to the discovery of another woman’s body instead, further complicating the case. The identity and circumstances surrounding the death of the 1945 Porter County Jane Doe remain unknown, marking one of Indiana’s longest-standing unsolved cases.
Indiana Dunes National Park, while a place of natural beauty, holds many stories of unexplained disappearances. These cases remind us of the fragility of life and the mysteries that sometimes remain unsolved, hidden within the landscape.
What are your thoughts on these baffling cases? Share your insights in the comments below!
