Account
May 31, 2011
Mar 27, 2024
David
Rea
65
26
69 inches
70 inches
140 lbs
150 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the winter of 1985, a young man named David Bruce Rea, at the age of 27, vanished from his home in Lake Leelanau, Michigan. On December 2nd of that year, he was last seen leaving his residence on foot. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being between 5'9" and 5'10" tall and weighing between 140 and 150 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes and was nearsighted, requiring glasses. When he was last seen, he was wearing a green nylon jacket, corduroy jeans, and leather boots, and was carrying a green backpack. His sudden departure without a trace left his family with years of unanswered questions and the lingering hope for his return. For over two and a half decades, the whereabouts of David Rea remained a mystery. The Michigan State Police from the Traverse City Post handled the investigation, but with limited leads, the case grew cold. There were no immediate signs of foul play, and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance were unclear. He had simply walked away from his home and was never seen or heard from again. The passage of time did little to ease the uncertainty for his loved ones, who were left to wonder what had become of him. The case was entered into national missing persons databases in the hope that new information might one day surface. Regrettably, after more than 25 years, the case of David Bruce Rea came to a somber conclusion. He was located, and it was determined that he was deceased. The specific details surrounding the discovery of his remains and the cause of his death have not been widely publicized. The resolution of his case, while providing a definitive answer, brought a sad end to the long period of not knowing. The overview of the case reflects a young man who disappeared under unknown circumstances, a lengthy and cold investigation, and the eventual, sorrowful discovery that he was no longer alive, closing a long-standing missing person case in Michigan.
Dec 02, 1985
Lake Leelanau
Michigan
Leelanau County
49653
10255
Michigan State Police - Traverse City Post
Traverse City
Michigan
Grand Traverse County
49684
218 West Fourteenth Street, Michigan
2319464646
State
Law Enforcement
71-969-11
2011-05-10
Michigan State Police - Traverse City Post
Brown
Brown
Brown
05/31/2026
