Brittany Shank of Sturgis went missing on November 30, 2018, and on the fifth anniversary of her disappearance the case remains unsolved. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation into her disappearance remains open, as they continue to follow up on tips and leads. Meanwhile, the community is doing its part to raise awareness with a “Light Up the Night” event this evening at 6 p.m. (Free Church Park, 203 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis).
As Watershed Voice previously reported back in March, the 23-year old woman was last seen after emerging from a car crash in the area of Fawn River Road near Workman Road around 9 p.m. that day. Wallace reportedly walked to nearby homes for help, noticeably bleeding from her arms and feet and without a coat or shoes. When a homeowner attempted to find better cell phone reception in order to call police, Wallace vanished and her cellphone pinged for the last time near the intersection of Watt Road and Fawn River Road in Sturgis.
The cold case gathered national attention after true crime podcast “Hide and Seek” dedicated a third season of the show to Wallace’s disappearance. Host and creator James Basinger’s coverage of the case includes information and interviews from over 200 people, which Baysinger and his team of podcast researchers have shared with detectives.
In a press release issued Thursday morning, the sheriff’s office said Det. Sgt. Jason Auton took over the investigation in March of 2022, dedicating much of his time investigating the case “with the goal of bringing Brittany home.” Investigators have continued to search multiple locations throughout Michigan and Indiana using drones, cadaver dogs, and search groups. Detectives continue to conduct interviews, work with a “forensic artist,” and use “polygraph analysis to develop additional leads and information.”
According to authorities, the sheriff’s office also partnered with the Western Michigan University Cold Case Program to assist with the case in January. The team spent “countless hours” organizing case files, creating an index, and combing through all digital evidence collected. This is the largest case the program has undertaken, with over 1,072 individuals mentioned within the case file. The sheriff’s department says every tip or source of information received is given attention and is thoroughly investigated.
“Brittany’s family and friends, the community, and law enforcement are understandably frustrated to not have the answers about her disappearance, and I feel for them,” Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said. “This office is committed to continue to give this case the full attention it deserves, to find Brittany, and bring some closure to those grieving.”
Alek Haak-Frost is the executive editor and publisher of Watershed Voice.
