5 replies to this topic

[Jenn]

http://www.charleypr...ltz_bonnie.html

Bonnie L. Schultz


Above Images: Bonnie, circa 1997

Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since:  July 3, 1997 from Marion County, Indiana
Classification: Endangered Missing
DOB: July 25, 1951
Age: 46 years old
Height and Weight: 5'7, 160 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes.

Details of Disappearance

Bonnie was last seen leaving the Time Out Lounge in the area of 62nd Street and Allisonville Road in Marion County, Indiana at 4 a.m. on July 3, 1997.  She was with two companions, one her best friend and the other a male coworker, at the time.  She left alone, driving her car.  She never returned to her family's residence and has not been seen again.  Schultz's blue four-door 1990 Mercury Sable station wagon with Indiana license plates numbered 99G9645 has never been located.

When Bonnie didn't return home, her husband, Rickard, initially assumed she had decided to stay over at a coworker's home.  He reported her missing at 5 p.m. the following day, when she still hadn't arrived home.  Bonnie and Richard had been married over twenty years by the time of her disappearance, and they have two children together.  She had been a stay-at-home mother until shortly before her disappearance, when she took a part-time job as an inventory clerk.  Rickard stated that they had been having marital problems and had discussed the possibility of divorce, but he didn't believe she would have simply left without explanation.

At the time of her disappearance, Bonnie was having an affair with the male coworker she met that night.  He and her friend stated she was very upset when she first came to the Time Out Lounge.  She told them she had had a bad fight with Richard and he was refusing to consent to a divorce.  She calmed down as the evening progressed and was fine by the time she left to go home.  Bonnie's boyfriend passed a polygraph in relation to her case, but Richard's polygraph indicated deception.

Investigators believed at first that Bonnie had left of her own accord to escape her marriage.  They now think foul play was involved in her case, however.  There has been no activity on her bank accounts or cellular phone since she vanished.  Her disappearance remains unsolved.


If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: Marion County Sheriff's Department at 317-231-8714.

[Jenn]

Older article:

http://www.wthr.com/...y.asp?S=6466870

Missing Mom


Bonnie Schultz Bonnie Schultz

Rick Schultz Rick Schultz

by Scott Swan/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - As it approaches the ten-year anniversary, the Bonnie Shultz missing person's case remains a puzzle. The wife and mother of two children was last seen leaving a north side bar in her vehicle. But Bonnie never made it home. It was painful for her young son in 1997. It still hurts ten years later.

"I miss her. I know that much. I've missed her since the day she was gone," said 25-year-old Josh Schultz. "When it first happened, I held out hope for quite a while that something would turn up, as far as her coming back. And over the years, I've lost that hope," added Schultz.

The Schultz family now lives in Michigan. Their life is normal in many ways except for the nagging question that continues to haunt family and police. What happened to Bonnie?

In July of 1997, the Schultz family lived in the 4400 block of Clayburn Drive on the northwest side of Indianapolis. The night she disappeared, Bonnie had a conversation with her husband Rick about marriage problems. After 26 years of marriage, Bonnie wanted a divorce.

"She made comments that her and I didn't have anything in common and she liked doing one thing and I liked doing another. Most couples - in my opinion - are that way. What they have in common is the family," said 56-year-old Rick Schultz. "I never thought she was the type that would get up and leave and run away. She wouldn't leave her kids behind," Schultz added. "I don't think she had any thoughts of suicide or anything like that. I don't think the situation was anywhere near that desperate."

Rick says he wanted counseling. After their conversation at home, Bonnie left for a nighttime birthday party with co-workers from her part-time inventory job. Josh, who was 15 at the time, went to a friend's home for a sleep-over. Gretchen, who was 10, stayed at home with her father.

Police say Bonnie was last seen at the Time Out Lounge near 62nd and Allisonville in the early morning hours of July 4, 1997. Detectives say Bonnie was seen with a woman and a man.

"They both gave statements, both were cooperative. Both said she was upset when she initially got there. But she settled down throughout the evening," said IMPD Missing Person's Detective Catherine Byron.

Witnesses told police Bonnie left alone in her car. It was a blue, 1990 four-door Mercury Sable station wagon with an Indiana License 99G9645.

"When I woke up the next morning, she wasn't there," recalled Rick Schultz.

Rick says he became concerned and called police. The family filed a missing person's report. Police monitored Bonnie's bank accounts and cell phone activity but found nothing.

"No one vanishes. She is somewhere. And so is that car," said Detective Byron.

Detectives working the case believe Bonnie was the victim of foul play. If she was murdered, who did it?

"The person responsible for this were pretty involved. They had a plan. Not only to hide Bonnie but to hide her entire car," said Detective Byron. Police say no one has been ruled out as a suspect.

"The husband is the first person that comes to mind when a spouse is missing," said Rick Schultz. "I had nothing to do with causing any of her physical harm."

The Schultz children cannot imagine any family member hurting their mom. "I don't think my dad did it. I don't think Josh did it," said 20-year old Gretchen Schultz.

Did someone else kill Bonnie? Did she take her own life? Did Bonnie want to disappear and start a new life?

"I don't believe that Bonnie left her children and left her friends, and left her job and took her car and hid is somewhere. I don't believe Bonnie has been living somewhere the last ten years," said Detective Byron.

"If she left us and is happy, as difficult as that is for us, that's better for her. If something else has happened, obviously it's a bad thing for everybody," said Rick Schultz.

The Schultz children believe their mother is dead. "I think someone probably murdered her," said Josh Schultz. "I really don't think she's alive anymore," said Gretchen Schultz. "It's been too long."

The children are left with family photos, memories and questions. They are hoping someone can help find the missing piece of the puzzle.

"I would truthfully like to know what happened. I mean, truly know, not just wonder," said Josh Schultz.

"Somebody out there knows something," said Rick Schultz. "We don't know what happened. And the not knowing is probably the most troubling."

If you have any information that could help police, call IMPD Missing Person's Detective Catherine Byron at 327-6984 or call crime stoppers at 262-TIPS. You don't have to give your name.

[Jenn]

http://blogs.discove...ie-schultz.html

The Mysterious Disappearance of Bonnie Schultz

January 12, 2010

The Missing – A Weekly Exposé of Lost Souls – Issue #38

In this edition of "The Missing," we revisit the disappearance of Bonnie L. Schultz, a 47-year-old mother of two who went missing from Indianapolis, Indiana in 1997.

It was approximately 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 4, 1997, when Richard Schultz contacted the Marion County Sheriff's Department and reported his wife missing. According to Richard, Bonnie had gone out with coworkers the previous evening and never returned home. He said he initially thought she might have had too much to drink and stayed with a co-worker, but when she failed to return home by the following afternoon he felt something was wrong.

"At the time, Bonnie and Richard had been married for over 20 years and had 2 children, Gretchen and Joshua, ages 10 and 15," said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Missing Persons' Detective Dan Kistner. "Richard was employed as a bank executive with National City Bank and Bonnie was a part-time inventory clerk who had recently re-entered the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom."

Richard provided police with a description of his wife and her personal effects. He also described the car she had been driving as a blue, 1990 four-door Mercury Sable station wagon with Indiana license plate number 99G9645.

Upon further inquiry, Richard also told investigators that his relationship with his wife was rocky and that they had recently had "discussions" regarding divorce.

"On July 7, 1997, Richard reiterated his initial statement and provided a more detailed clothing/personal property description to the lead detective via telephone," Det. Kistner said. "Afterwards, the detective spoke with Bonnie's co-worker and best friend, both of whom were with her on the evening of July 3, 1997."

According to her friends, Bonnie was last seen leaving the Time Out Lounge at 62nd Street and Allisonville Road on July 4, 1997, at approximately 4:00 a.m. Bonnie was purportedly heading home at the time.

"During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Bonnie had been having an affair with a male co-worker who was also with her that evening," Det. Kistner said. "A female friend stated that when Bonnie arrived at the gathering on July 3, she was crying and emotionally upset. Bonnie informed her friend that she and Richard had had a huge fight, that Richard refused to give her a divorce, and she did not know what he might do. Bonnie had also advised the man she was having an affair with of the same circumstances that evening before she departed for home."

Bonnie's boyfriend cooperated with police and submitted to a polygraph examination, in which no evidence of deception was indicated. Police then questioned Richard about the alleged argument. He denied an argument had occurred and stated they had had a "discussion."

"Richard later submitted to a polygraph, in which deception was indicated," Det. Kistner said.

Roughly one week after Bonnie went missing, authorities went to the residence where Bonnie and Richard resided to ask some follow-up questions.

"Richard was at work but the children were home," Det. Kistner said. "After a short discussion, Gretchen mentioned items that her mother had with her when she left the residence on July 3. One of those items was a gift that Gretchen and Joshua had given to her – a gift she was always known to have in her possession."

Det. Kistner won't reveal what the "gift" was but he did say that Gretchen was able to confirm it was still inside the residence.

"The information received from the children conflicted with Richard's own statement to police, in which he had listed the gift as property his wife had in her possession at the time she went missing," Det. Kistner said. "This led us to further question Richard’s account that Bonnie had never returned home."

When asked about the item in question, Richard told police that he must have been confused about it. Further attempts to verify whether Bonnie had it with her were also unsuccessful. As a result, what initially felt like a break in the case, turned into a he said-she said between father and daughter.

"Attempts to locate Bonnie and her vehicle over the years have also been unsuccessful," Det. Kistner said. "There was an initial belief that Bonnie had left of her own accord. Too much time passed before detectives realized that things were indicating otherwise and charges were never filed. Close friends and Bonnie’s family all state Bonnie would have never left her children and believe she met with foul play."

In 2000, Richard and his children moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. On the ten-year anniversary of Bonnie's disappearance, Richard spoke with WTHR.com about the case.

"The husband is the first person who comes to mind when a spouse is missing," Richard Schultz said. "I had nothing to do with causing any of her physical harm … If she left us and is happy, as difficult as that is for us, that's better for her. If something else has happened, obviously it's a bad thing for everybody."

In 2008, Detective Kistner traveled to Kalamazoo in an attempt to get new leads in the case.

"I wanted to speak with Richard and Bonnie's children, who are now grown," Det. Kistner said. "Richard maintained that he knew nothing. He has made no attempts to locate his wife since her reported disappearance. Joshua still lives with Richard, who provides complete monetary support for his children. They have very limited association with any other family members. Both children refused to talk to me regarding their mother's disappearance. Gretchen stated that it would not change anything."

Unfortunately, Detective Kistner's trip to Michigan has yet to yield all of the information or results needed in the case and, as of today, neither Bonnie nor her blue station wagon have ever been located. Nevertheless, Kistner’s investigation is far from over.

"It is a very frustrating cold case," Det. Kistner said. "I have taken it very personally and have endured many sleepless nights thinking about it. It is my belief that Joshua and Gretchen would want to do anything and everything possible to locate their missing mother. I believe their failure to cooperate is because they know their mother is deceased and, quite possibly, who is responsible. Regardless, the perpetrator of this crime can rest assured that we will not give up."

Bonnie Schultz is described as a white female, 5' 7" tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Dan Kistner at 317-327-6539 or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS. Click here to download her missing person flyer.

http://blogs.discove...a1ab9970b-320wi
Bonnie's car

[Jenn]

Bonnie's missing person flyer: http://blogs.discove...hultz-flyer.pdf

[Lori Davis]

https://www.findthem...g/cases/4521/1/
NamUs profile for Bonnie Schultz - Case 4521

[Deborah]

Bonnie is still missing.

 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Dan Kistner at 317-327-6539.