The mystery of an airman who disappeared from a Michigan Air Force base 44 years ago

MARQUETTE COUNTY, Mich. – It’s been precisely 44 years since a 23-year-old airman mysteriously disappeared from a Michigan Air Drive base in the course of the evening. Officers are nonetheless making an attempt to unravel this case after his stays had been discovered just a few years in the past.

Airman goes lacking from base

Sgt. Donald Curtis Rexroth was 23 years outdated when he went lacking from the Okay.I. Sawyer Air Drive Base in Marquette County.

Rexroth’s spouse mentioned he was cleansing one other couple’s army quarters on the base round 11 p.m. Could 3, 1979. She mentioned he appeared argumentative and depressed that evening.

He left the home on foot sporting solely a white thermal underwear high, blue denims, and tennis footwear. Temperatures had been beneath freezing.

That was the final time anybody heard from Rexroth. He was formally reported lacking by the USA Air Drive the next day.

Stays discovered 38 years later

In 2017, Particular Agent Charles Pipkins, of the Air Drive Workplace of Particular Investigations’ Chilly Case Crew, regarded into Rexroth’s case and commenced retracing the steps that led as much as his disappearance.

Pipkins spoke to relations, associates, and Rexroth’s spouse. They had been sure that his disappearance was the results of foul play.

Within the fall of 2017, hunters discovered human stays in a wooded space near the previous base in Skandia Township, Michigan.

Michigan State Police logged the stays into the state database. When Pipkins reviewed that database, he made a break within the case.

“I searched the database in 2018 and seen the unidentified stays of a male matching the age and top of Rexroth,” Pipkins mentioned. “I started working to match the DNA of the bones to that of Rexroth’s relations to verify my suspicion that the stays had been these of Sgt. Rexroth.”

Two years later, in July 2019, DNA testing confirmed these stays belonged to Rexroth.

Authorities mentioned foul play is suspected within the case, and so they nonetheless have unanswered questions. Members of the family insist Rexroth wouldn’t have left with out saying goodbye.

Anybody with data on this case is requested to name the Chilly Case Crew at 1-800-246-1453, or submit an nameless tip at http://www.tip411.com.

Extra stays found

Weeks after figuring out Rexroth’s stays, the Air Drive despatched an 18-person group to the wooded space. They had been joined by officers from Michigan State Police and the Marquette County Sheriff’s Workplace, amongst others.

The search lasted 4 days, and the group discovered extra stays and private gadgets that belonged to Rexroth.

“I’m glad we may provide some closure to Sgt. Rexroth’s household,” Pipkins mentioned. “Now, our hope is that somebody comes ahead with new data to assist us determine what occurred.”

Rexroth background

Rexroth was born March 1, 1956, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Chambersburg Space Senior Excessive Faculty and studied electronics on the Franklin County Profession and Know-how Middle.

His obituary says he was a gifted stone and brick mason and liked nation music and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Rexroth joined the Air Drive in 1974 and was assigned to the Okay.I. Sawyer base. He labored with bombing navigation and terrain avoidance methods and was tasked with analyzing mission assist capabilities.

His funeral was held Dec. 6, 2019, in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. He obtained full army honors at Spring Hill Cemetery.

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