On August 23, 1973, 54-year-old Mary Brunette Chagnon departed from her residence in the 2800 block of East Superior Street in Duluth, Minnesota. She was on her way to the Twin Cities to attend a Founder's Day Workshop meeting and visit with friends. Chagnon, a prominent local figure, was known for her activism in women's issues and her opposition to the Vietnam War.
She was the 8th District coordinator for the Minnesota Women's Political Caucus and also worked as a freelance commercial artist, having illustrated a children's book in 1971. She left her home between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m., driving the family car. However, she never arrived at her speaking engagement. A few days later, her car was discovered abandoned in a parking lot in downtown Minneapolis, mysteriously wiped clean of any fingerprints.
At the time of her disappearance, Mary lived with her husband, Raymond, and their two sons. About a year after she went missing, Raymond Chagnon moved to California and rented out their Duluth home. He could not sell the property until Mary was legally declared dead, which occurred in 1980. In 1977, while in California, Raymond was arrested for shooting a female friend in the back; the woman survived. The two weapons used in the assault had their serial numbers filed off. A search of his belongings uncovered a cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives. He pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit murder and served ten months in jail. After Mary was declared legally dead, Raymond put their Duluth house up for sale. In 1981, a cleaner discovered two cigar boxes in the vacant home that were rigged to explode. A subsequent search of the property revealed 100 pounds of deteriorated dynamite and blasting equipment under the porch. Raymond denied any connection to the explosives and passed away in 1982.
Mary Chagnon's case remains unsolved, and no charges have ever been filed in her disappearance. Friends and those familiar with the case believe that she met with a violent end. The circumstances surrounding her vanishing, including the discovery of her clean car and the subsequent troubling events involving her husband, have left a long shadow over the community. Despite the passage of time, the investigation into what happened to Mary Chagnon continues, with law enforcement agencies like the Duluth Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension still listing her as a missing person. A joint burial plot exists for Mary and Raymond in Connecticut, where her date of death is listed as the day she disappeared. The case serves as a perplexing and somber reminder of a vibrant community member who vanished without a trace.Last Seen: Aug 23, 1973
