Account
Apr 04, 2019
Sep 05, 2023
Brittany
Shank
29
23
61 inches
110 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
On a foggy evening in Sturgis, Michigan, 23-year-old Brittany Shank vanished without a trace. The date was November 30, 2018, a day that began with a visit to her grandmother's house to do laundry, accompanied by an unidentified man. Later that night, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the car Brittany was driving veered off Fawn River Road, a rural and isolated area about seven miles from downtown Sturgis. Disoriented from the minor accident, which was likely caused by the thick fog, Brittany, a mother of four, was seen going from house to house seeking assistance. She was reportedly without a coat or shoes, and her feet appeared to have cuts, possibly from the broken glass of the car or the gravel on the road. Despite the cold November weather, her attempts to call for help on her cell phone were unsuccessful due to poor reception in the area. A resident she managed to contact described her as "erratic" and confused, likely from the crash. He offered her a green army jacket and attempted to call the police for her. However, while his back was turned, Brittany ran off into the night, heading towards a neighboring house. This would be one of the last confirmed sightings of her. At the next house, a teenager inside heard knocking and saw Brittany walking around the property. Frightened, the teen hid but made eye contact with her as she looked through a window. After this encounter, Brittany Shank disappeared. A week later, with no word from her, her mother officially reported her missing to the authorities. The investigation into Brittany Shank's disappearance has been ongoing for years, marked by periods of few updates followed by renewed efforts. A key point of focus for investigators has been the identity of the man last seen with her, described as being in his twenties, between 5'6" and 5'8" with short blond hair and mutton-chop sideburns. This individual, believed to be her boyfriend at the time, was also in the car during the crash but a missing person report was never filed for him. The ownership of the vehicle, which investigators believe was transferred to a third party, is another area of interest. Over the years, the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office has received assistance from the FBI and Michigan State Police, bringing new resources and a fresh perspective to the case. This has included enhancing 911 audio and video evidence and conducting new aerial and ground searches. Despite these efforts and the unwavering hope of her family, what happened to Brittany Shank after she fled into the foggy night remains a painful mystery. The case is a complex one, involving a young woman in a turbulent period of her life who vanished under perplexing circumstances, leaving behind a community searching for answers.
Nov 30, 2018
Sturgis
Michigan
St. Joseph County
49091
No
48956
St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office
Centreville
Michigan
St. Joseph County
49032
Jason Auton
D/Sgt.
650 E. Main Street, Michigan
2694679045
County
Law Enforcement
75-8112-18
2018-12-09
St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office
9316
Brown
Hazel
Hazel
05/30/2026
