Michael Steven Bickel, also known as Mike, was a 54-year-old man from Portage, Indiana, who was last seen on March 9, 2012. He was a white male with graying brown hair and hazel eyes. He stood between 5'11" and 6'0" tall and weighed between 140 and 150 pounds. He had a scar on his upper chin below his lip and was missing a toenail. Michael had undergone Lasik eye surgery to correct his vision.
On the day of his disappearance, he left for a trip to Lake Michigan and was never heard from again.
Following his disappearance, Michael's green 2012 Subaru was found and impounded by the authorities. The vehicle was later turned over to his family. The investigation into his disappearance uncovered two suicide notes that he had left behind. In one of the notes, he stated his intention to swim approximately thirty miles from Portage Lakefront Park to Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. This information led authorities to believe that he may have drowned in Lake Michigan while attempting the long-distance swim.
The circumstances surrounding Michael Bickel's case have led to the presumption that he is deceased. The notes he left behind indicated an intent to take his own life, and the unusual plan to swim a great distance in Lake Michigan supports the theory of his drowning. Despite the search efforts and the investigation conducted by the Portage Police Department, his body has never been recovered. The case remains a painful mystery for his family and friends, who are left with unanswered questions and the enduring pain of his absence. The overview of the case suggests a man who planned his final actions, leaving behind clues that pointed to a tragic end in the waters of Lake Michigan.Last Seen: Mar 9, 2012
