The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office released two components of its investigation into Brittany Shank’s missing persons case on Monday afternoon. They include a 911 call containing the last known recorded contact with Shank, at approximately 8:51 p.m. on November 30, 2018, and a sketch of the person who is last known to have been with her. The sheriff’s office did not identify the person in the sketch.
Shank’s father, Greg Wallace, was among those asking the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last month to transfer Shank’s case from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office to the Michigan State Police. In a statement almost identical to the one it issued on the five-year anniversary of Shank’s disappearance back in November 2023, the sheriff’s department said on Monday it has collaborated with the state police but will not relinquish control as the lead investigative unit.
“We are utilizing their available resources, equipment, and expertise,” the sheriff’s office said. “Ongoing meetings have led to a collective agreement that the most appropriate agency to continue investigating the case is the sheriff’s office, as the agency with the most knowledge of the elements of the case.”
The sheriff’s office again mentioned it has leveraged a partnership with the Western Michigan University Cold Case Program, facilitated by the Michigan State Police.
“(The program has) devoted hundreds of hours of time to digitize and organize the case file for investigators, and ultimately helped to provide timelines and categorize subjects listed within the case file,” the department stated.
Additionally, the office said it has organized dozens of searches, using both traditional and non-traditional investigative techniques. These include ground searches, aerial surveys, ground penetrating radar, cadaver dogs, the Sheriff’s Office Mounted Division, and the Sheriff’s Office Dive Rescue Team.
“Every available resource has been utilized in this case,” the statement reads. “(We have) encountered challenges including individuals withholding or providing incorrect/incomplete statements and some witnesses have passed away.”
Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office is fully committed to the Shank case and remains dedicated to finding the resolution. He requests any members of the public with new or unreported case information contact Det. Sgt. Jason Auton at 269-467-9045 ext. 227, or [email protected].
Alek Haak-Frost is the executive editor and publisher of Watershed Voice. Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
