On a late summer day, September 16, 1989, 61-year-old Edward Joseph Labrie and his sister, Shirley Klemgard, ventured out for a fishing trip on Lake Ontario. They departed from the area of Alexandria Bay, New York, in a 16-foot, 1962 Lone Star boat, which was white with red trim and powered by a black 40-horsepower Evinrude motor. Concerns had been raised by relatives prior to the trip, as the boat's motor had been frequently stalling.
The last known sighting of the siblings was around 6:00 p.m. that evening, as they were believed to be heading from Galoo Island toward Henderson Harbor. Their car and boat trailer were later discovered abandoned at a state boat launch in Henderson Harbor, marking the beginning of a long and puzzling disappearance.
The initial search for Edward and Shirley yielded no immediate results, leaving their family and law enforcement with a growing sense of unease. A significant and haunting clue emerged on September 24, 1989, when a piece of their boat washed ashore at Fairhaven Beach in Cayuga County. Scrawled on the fragment was a desperate plea for help: 'SEND HELP SHIRLEY KLEMGARD AND ED LABRIE LOST 7 DAYS ON 16 FT BOAT FIBERGLASS RED & WHITE'. This message confirmed that the pair had been stranded on the vast waters of Lake Ontario for at least a week, but it offered no information as to their ultimate fate. Extensive search efforts were launched in the wake of this discovery, but tragically, neither Edward nor his sister were ever found.
The disappearance of Edward Labrie and Shirley Klemgard remains an open and unsolved case. Investigators have been unable to uncover any further leads that might explain what happened to the siblings after their boat became disabled. The details of their last known movements, the problematic motor, and the desperate message found on the boat fragment paint a somber picture of their final days. The case is a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of the great lakes and the enduring pain of families left without answers. The New York State Police continue to hold the case file, hoping that one day new information will come to light and finally bring closure to the family of Edward Labrie and Shirley Klemgard.Last Seen: Sep 16, 1989
