On a September day in 1989, 49-year-old Shirley Ann Klemgard and her 61-year-old brother, Edward Joseph LaBrie, embarked on a fishing trip on Lake Ontario that would become their last. The siblings were last seen on September 16, 1989, aboard their 16-foot 1962 Lone Star boat near Alexandria Bay, New York. Relatives later reported that the boat's 40-horsepower Evinrude motor had been frequently stalling, a detail that would become a somber note in the narrative of their disappearance. The last known sighting of the pair was around 6:00 p.m. as they were believed to be heading from Galoo Island toward Henderson Harbor. Their car and boat trailer were later found abandoned at a state boat launch in Henderson Harbor, an early and ominous sign that their journey had gone awry.
The days following their failure to return were filled with a desperate search and a heart-wrenching discovery. Eight days after they were last seen, on September 24, 1989, a piece of their white and red trimmed fiberglass boat washed ashore at Fairhaven Beach in Cayuga County. Scrawled on the fragment was a desperate, handwritten plea: 'SEND HELP SHIRLEY KLEMGARD AND ED LABRIE LOST 7 DAYS ON 16 FT BOAT FIBERGLASS RED & WHITE.' This message provided a chilling glimpse into their final days, suggesting they had been stranded and fighting for survival for a week. Despite this crucial clue, extensive searches of the vast lake yielded no further trace of Shirley or her brother.
The disappearance of Shirley Klemgard and Edward LaBrie remains an unsolved case, a lingering mystery in Jefferson County. With no further evidence or sightings, law enforcement has been left with few leads to follow. The New York State Police continue to seek any information that might shed light on the siblings' fate. The prevailing theory is that their boat, plagued by engine trouble, became disabled on the expansive and unpredictable waters of Lake Ontario, leaving them at the mercy of the elements. The handwritten note serves as a final, haunting communication, a testament to their struggle in their final days. The case stands as a painful reminder of the perils of the water and the enduring pain of unresolved loss for their families.
Last Seen: Sep 16, 1989
