Joseph Robert Clewley, known as Joe, was 73 when he disappeared from the Tahquamenon Falls State Park area near Paradise, Michigan on July 12, 2008. Staying alone at a remote cabin by the Tahquamenon River, he was last seen leaving for a hike with his dog, a Chow/Springer Spaniel mix named Chip. Joe was an experienced local hiker who had used the area for more than two decades and was familiar with the trails.
Investigators found his silver 1992 Oldsmobile Silhouette van at the North Country Trail trailhead; the vehicle was unlocked, the keys were inside, and the gas tank was nearly empty—behavior his family said was out of character. The cabin was locked and showed no signs of a struggle. Extensive searches involving local and state teams turned up no trace of Joe, and no belongings or clothing were found to indicate his route.
Twenty days after his disappearance Chip returned to the family cabin thin but surprisingly clean and without the insect bites expected after weeks outdoors, a detail that prompted speculation someone may have cared for the dog. Joe had notable health issues, including heart and circulatory problems and some short-term memory loss, though family members did not think he would become disoriented. The case remains unsolved.
Did anyone in the area remember seeing Joe, his van, or Chip around July 12, 2008?