Dakota Menger was two years old when he vanished from Nekoosa, Wisconsin, on August 20, 1999. He was last seen with his mother, Dayna Menger, and Dayna’s friend, Junelle Marquard. That morning the three adults dropped Dayna’s four-year-old daughter at a babysitter’s home, then left without saying where they were going and were never seen or heard from again.

The babysitter did not raise the alarm immediately because Dayna had a history of leaving her children for days at a time. Weeks passed with no contact, and social services were eventually notified. Dayna’s brother did not file an official missing person report until 2004, which is when police became involved. Junelle has never been formally reported missing but is treated as part of the same disappearance.

Investigators have considered the possibility of foul play, and both women had minor criminal histories; however, no concrete leads have emerged and all three remain missing. If anyone has information about Dakota, Dayna, or Junelle, please contact the Nekoosa Police Department.