The disappearance of Jermain Charlo, a Montana mom missing for over six years, has left authorities and her family searching for answers. The exclusive release of security camera footage by the Missoula Police to “48 Hours” aims to generate leads and shed light on the case.
On the night of June 15, 2018, Charlo was captured on surveillance video walking in downtown Missoula with a man identified as Michael DeFrance, her ex-boyfriend and father of their two children. Despite their on-and-off relationship, Charlo’s family reported tension between the couple leading up to her disappearance.
DeFrance claimed to have dropped Charlo off near a food market in downtown Missoula around 1 a.m. before she allegedly went to meet a friend named Cassidy, a person authorities were unable to locate. Phone records revealed her phone was active in a different location from downtown Missoula, raising more questions about the night she vanished.
The search for Charlo has garnered community support, with locals participating in grid searches to comb through areas where she might have been. Her disappearance is part of the larger issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW), shedding light on the disproportionate number of cases within the Indigenous community.
Despite DeFrance’s involvement in disposing of Charlo’s phone and conflicting details surrounding the night she disappeared, he has not been named as a suspect in the case. Detectives continue to urge anyone with information to come forward, as the investigation remains open and active.
The release of the security footage on “48 Hours” aims to spark new leads and bring closure to the case of Jermain Charlo. As authorities investigate her disappearance as a no-body homicide, her family holds onto hope that they will find answers and justice for their loved one. If you have any information about Jermain Charlo’s disappearance, contact Missoula Police detective Guy Baker at 406-552-6284.
The ongoing search for Jermain Charlo serves as a reminder of the unresolved cases within Indigenous communities and the need for equal attention and resources in finding missing persons. As the investigation continues, the hope for closure and justice for Charlo remains a driving force for her family, friends, and the wider community.
