On an autumn day in 2007, 18-year-old Lee Cutler, a senior at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, disappeared from Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The night prior, he had attended a friend's birthday celebration and then spent the night at a friend's house. On the morning of October 20, he dropped another friend off around 9:50 a.m. and was expected to be at his part-time job at a clothing store in a Vernon Hills mall by noon, but he never arrived. Concern grew throughout the day as his family was unable to reach him. His mother, Beth, contacted his friends and even went to a local bowling alley for a youth group event he was expected to attend. When he failed to appear, she reported him missing to the Buffalo Grove Police Department that evening. Initially, with no signs of foul play in his room, it was thought he might have gone for a long drive to clear his head, something he was known to do.
The case took a significant turn when, in the early morning hours of October 22, Cutler's 2007 Toyota Corolla was discovered abandoned at a rest stop nearly 200 miles from his home, near Baraboo, Wisconsin. The car was locked and showed no signs of a struggle. A receipt found inside the vehicle indicated that Cutler had been at Kettle Moraine State Forest the previous afternoon. This discovery prompted an extensive search of the wooded area near where the car was found. Searchers soon located a makeshift campsite with Cutler's backpack, blankets, and an empty bottle of an over-the-counter sleep aid. Near the Baraboo River, they found his yarmulke and a troubling note addressed to his mother that read, in part, 'My head is too big for my body. Finally, I will get to sleep. I'm sorry for being a coward. I love you, mom. Please, be happy.'
Over the next five days, search efforts intensified around the Baraboo River. Divers found Cutler's pants, which contained his wallet, ID, car keys, and some cash. Despite the thorough search of the river and surrounding land, no further trace of Lee Cutler was found. Investigators stated that they were confident he was no longer in the area where his belongings were discovered. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance have led to several theories. While the note and the empty bottle of pills suggest the possibility of suicide, his family has maintained that they do not believe he would take his own life, citing his strong connection to his Jewish faith. Other theories suggest he may have decided to run away and start a new life, potentially inspired by the book 'Into the Wild,' a copy of which was found among his belongings. There have been unconfirmed sightings of him in various states over the years, but none have led to any concrete answers. The Buffalo Grove Police Department continues to keep his case open, and his family holds onto hope that he will one day return home.
Last Seen: Oct 20, 2007
