Account
Dec 12, 2008
Oct 12, 2022
Charles
Rutherford, Jr
53
34
74 inches
205 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the summer of 2005, a mystery began to unfold on the waters of Lake Huron that would leave a family with unanswered questions for years to come. On August 11, 2005, 34-year-old Charles "Chuck" Rutherford, Jr., a male from the Detroit area, and his girlfriend, Lana Stempien, were enjoying a boating trip to Mackinac Island. They were last seen at approximately 12:30 p.m. at the Presque Isle Marina in Presque Isle, Michigan, where they had stopped to refuel their 27-foot Wellcraft cabin cruiser, the "Sea's Life". A short time later, at 2:07 p.m., Lana made a phone call to a relative, stating they were a few hours away from their destination. This was the last time anyone heard from either of them. The following day, after they failed to arrive at Mackinac Island, they were reported missing. The search for the missing couple quickly led to a perplexing discovery. Their boat, the "Sea's Life," was found idling in neutral about ten miles from Mackinac Island. The scene on the boat was eerie and unsettling; the radio was playing, but the running lights were off. Personal belongings, including their cell phones, shoes, and life preservers, were all still on board, showing no signs of a struggle. One peculiar detail was a knob from the instrument panel found embedded in the sole of one of Lana's shoes. Adding to the mystery, the swim ladder was up, yet a 20-foot line was found floating off the back of the boat. This discovery only deepened the concern for the couple's welfare and left investigators with more questions than answers. The hope of finding Charles and Lana safe began to fade as the days turned into weeks. Tragically, about two weeks after their disappearance, Lana Stempien's body was found washed ashore near Hammond Bay. An autopsy revealed that she had drowned, and there was also an elevated level of carbon monoxide in her system. Despite this discovery, Charles Rutherford, Jr. remains missing. The case has since grown cold, with no new leads or credible information to provide a clear explanation of what happened that day on Lake Huron. Although he was declared legally dead in 2006, the lack of resolution continues to haunt those who knew him. The disappearance of Charles Rutherford, Jr. and the death of Lana Stempien remain one of the Great Lakes' most enduring and heartbreaking mysteries, a story of a summer boat trip that ended in tragedy and left behind a void of unanswered questions.
Aug 11, 2005
Presque Isle,
Michigan
Presque Isle County
19904
Michigan State Police
St. Ignace
Michigan
Mackinac County
49781
St. Ignace Post, Michigan
9066437582
State
Law Enforcement
83-936-05
Michigan State Police
5764
Brown
Hazel
Hazel
No
06/03/2026
