Montana police have been tirelessly searching for Jermain Charlo for over six years. The last known images of Jermain were captured on surveillance video in downtown Missoula on June 15, 2018. In the video, Jermain is seen chatting with people outside a bar called The Badlander before walking away with a man and disappearing into the night.
Jermain’s family became worried when she didn’t return home to the Flathead Reservation and had not been in touch with anyone. Her aunts, Dani Matt and Valenda Morigeau, immediately began searching for her and contacted the authorities. The family’s worry escalated, especially since Jermain never went anywhere without her phone.
The investigation into Jermain’s disappearance led detectives to focus on her ex-boyfriend, Michael DeFrance, who was the last person seen with Jermain. DeFrance admitted to dropping Jermain off in Missoula and later changing his story about her phone being with him and then disposing of it in Idaho.
Despite numerous searches and investigations, Jermain’s whereabouts remain unknown. Authorities are now considering her case a no body homicide, but without concrete evidence, prosecuting the case remains a challenge. Jermain’s family continues to search for answers and hold onto hope of finding closure.
The case of Jermain Charlo sheds light on the larger issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, a crisis that has plagued communities for years. Authorities are urging anyone with information about Jermain’s disappearance to come forward and help bring justice to her family. The search for Jermain continues, and her family remains determined to find answers and closure.
