Michael Jose Lara, a 40-year-old man from Duluth, Minnesota, was last seen on December 9, 2022, in the area of Taconite Harbor near Schroeder, Minnesota. Concerns for his well-being were heightened as he had been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. On the day of his disappearance, authorities were notified that Lara had driven his white truck to the Canadian border where he was stopped and questioned.
Following this interaction, he reportedly abandoned his vehicle, discarding his keys and cell phone into the woods. Law enforcement located him and transported him to a hospital in Grand Marais. However, he left the hospital on foot, without shoes.
Subsequent reports indicated a possible sighting of Lara in Tofte, where he was suspected of breaking into a cabin. This led to extensive search efforts by the Cook County and St. Louis County Sheriff's Offices in the Tofte and Taconite Harbor areas. Despite these searches, no significant leads regarding his whereabouts were discovered. The vast and dense woods of the region, coupled with the cold December weather, created challenging conditions for both survival and search operations. The lack of footwear was a particularly concerning detail for those involved in the search.
The investigation into Michael Lara's disappearance remains open. He is described as a white male, standing 5'9" to 5'10" and weighing between 160 and 180 pounds, with brown eyes and was bald or had shaved brown hair at the time he went missing. He has several distinctive tattoos, including "Rachael Lara" in black script on the right side of his neck, "Antonio" on his left arm, and "Insane 612 crew" on his chest. Authorities continue to ask for the public's help for any information that could lead to locating him. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance, from the events at the border to his departure from the hospital and the alleged cabin break-in, paint a picture of a man in crisis, leaving his family and community with unanswered questions and a lingering sense of concern for his fate.Last Seen: Dec 9, 2022
