After She Got Into An Argument With Her Fiancé In 2004, She Left Her Engagement Ring Behind And Was Never Seen Again
In 2004, Mary Denise Lands of Marshall, Michigan, was 39-years-old and had two adult children. Soon, she was also supposed to welcome her first grandchild.
So when Mary’s parents decided to move to California and begged her to follow suit, she turned down the idea. Mary was eager to stay in Michigan as she became a grandmother.
Tragically, though, that did not happen – because just days later, she mysteriously disappeared.
At the time, Mary was engaged to her fiancé, Christopher, and together, they lived in an apartment located on Arms Street in Marshall.
Shortly after her parents relocated to California in March 2004, they received a call from Christopher, asking whether they were with Mary. He claimed to have last seen his fiancée between 10:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on March 12, 2004.
However, Mary’s family had no clue where she was, and her brother, Mike, ultimately contacted the Marshall Police Department to report her missing.
Authorities launched an investigation and spoke to Christopher, who alleged they’d gotten into an argument that Friday night. Following their fight, Mary reportedly left their apartment and told her fiancé that she was going for a walk.
She took just her white mesh purse and was wearing medical scrubs with a leather jacket. Her other belongings – including her clothes, engagement ring, cell phone, and the keys to her new car, a Dodge Durango – were left behind.
Investigators determined that Mary had been at the Marshall Party Store earlier that same day, at approximately 6:30 p.m. According to Jim Carlin, a private investigator hired by Mary’s family, she’d gone to a local tanning salon to meet up with Christopher afterward.
Facebook – pictured above is Mary
Jim reportedly spoke to witnesses at the tanning salon who alleged Mary and Christopher were arguing both inside the salon and while they left.
Mary supposedly intended to meet up with one of her friends the night she disappeared as well. Yet, when that friend arrived to pick Mary up from her residence, Christopher allegedly claimed she was unavailable.
Christopher was questioned by authorities but reportedly went silent after, and he hasn’t been in contact with the Marshall Police Department since April 2004.
“He hasn’t seemed to be interested in reaching out,” said Deputy Chief Scott McDonald.
Over the years, investigators worked diligently to search for Mary – conducting ground searches and using helicopters, boats, and divers.
“In 15 years, we’ve got a lot, a lot of tips. And after a while, they start repeating themselves,” Deputy Chief McDonald explained.
Since Mary vanished, Christopher has been convicted of multiple charges in an unrelated case – including domestic violence, felonious assault, unlawful imprisonment, and interfering with a communications device. He served six years in prison before he was paroled in 2013.
According to the Marshall Police Department, Christopher remains a person of interest in Mary’s case despite never being officially named a suspect. A judge also declared Mary legally dead in April 2011.
Still, the search for her continues. A Facebook page entitled Justice For Mary Denise Lands has been created to raise awareness about her case, and her family is dedicated to finding answers.
“They all came back from California and have been strong advocates for Mary ever since. They really wanted to move back to California but can’t leave the area knowing the case is still open,” Deputy Chief McDonald said.
Deputy Chief McDonald thinks someone out there has information that could finally bring closure to Mary’s parents, Cliff and Anita, as well.
“Marshall Police still firmly believe there are some individuals that have some information that would break this case wide open. And if they would search in their hearts to do the right thing – particularly for Cliff and Anita – it would bring closure to those folks,” he stated.
Mary was five foot six, weighed 160 pounds, and had brown hair and brown eyes.
If you have any information regarding her case, you are urged to contact the Marshall Police Department at (269) 781-2596.
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