Overview of MISSING: Bonnie Lee Schultz Part 2
This episode continues the investigation into the 1997 disappearance of Bonnie Lee Schultz. Hosts Ashley Flowers and Britt review police records, multiple interviews (including transcribed interviews of Bonnie’s husband Richard “Rick” Schultz), investigative missteps, theories that have dominated public suspicion, family perspectives, and new — and controversial — information that includes a medium’s reading suggesting a different type of suspect. The episode focuses on what was and wasn’t done by investigators, contradictions and missing records, and the emotional toll on Bonnie’s children.
Key points and takeaways
- Bonnie left a workplace gathering the night of July 3, 1997, and never arrived home. Her car (1990 blue Mercury Sable, plate 99G9645) and Bonnie remain missing.
- Early suspicion centered on husband Rick, but hosts argue police never did a thoroughly documented, timely investigation of him (no house search until 2000; limited forensic work).
- Critical records were never obtained or are missing: investigators said Bonnie’s cell showed no activity, but Rick’s cell records were not produced and the provider’s verbal report is the only source cited.
- NCIC entry error: Bonnie was entered as missing in 1997 but her vehicle was not entered as missing/stolen until around 1999 — a missed opportunity to have license searches pick up the car earlier.
- Over 20 water searches (including sonar and private efforts) have been conducted; many cars found but not Bonnie’s. The absence of the car has driven repeated theories that it’s in water, but hosts question that assumption.
- New or less-discussed lines explored: John (Bonnie’s affair partner) had interactions the night of July 3–4; his daughter says he was worried as early as Friday, July 3 — a detail not clearly reflected in police records. John died in 2006.
- The hosts arranged a medium reading (Allison Dubois). Dubois’ impressions: Bonnie is deceased, was targeted by someone she didn’t know, the suspect had burglary behavior/record, lived “nearby but not in a house,” and Bonnie’s remains may be in a wooded area with walking paths (hosts suspect Eagle Creek area).
- Family perspective: son Josh does not believe his father (Rick) killed Bonnie and wants investigative transparency. Rick never remarried; he died in 2022. The family has been frustrated with police communication and perceived tunnel vision on Rick.
- Investigators did search electronics in Rick’s Michigan home years later but reportedly found nothing connected to the disappearance. Devices were returned broken. During searches in Michigan, Josh was charged for a small amount of marijuana — causing further friction with police.
People involved
- Bonnie Lee Schultz — missing since July 1997.
- Richard “Rick” Schultz — husband; long-time primary suspect in public perception; interviewed by detectives in 1997, 2007, 2008. He maintained he did not kill Bonnie.
- Josh and Gretchen — children; Gretchen was at home the night Bonnie left; Josh led family searches and continues to seek answers.
- Anita — friend/ coworker Bonnie went out with; told Rick Bonnie headed home; has largely declined to speak in later years and has been a focus of family attempts to get more detail.
- John — the man Bonnie was having an affair with; was said to have waved Bonnie off at the bar the night she left; police deem him credible and not involved; he died in 2006. His daughter, Kim, provided new details.
- Detectives mentioned: Mike Kelly (original investigator), Catherine Byron (recorded interview with Rick in 2007), Daniel Kisner and Nicholas (Nick) Hubbs (later lead investigators).
- Allison Dubois — medium who conducted a reading at the hosts’ request; offered impressions inconsistent with the husband theory.
Timeline / Important investigative events
- July 3–4, 1997 — Bonnie out with coworkers late July 3; missing by July 4. Rick reports her missing after talking with Anita.
- 1997 — Initial investigation; police report entered Bonnie as missing but vehicle not entered into NCIC as stolen/missing at that time.
- 1999 — Vehicle omission noticed and plate checked historically; nobody had run the plate in the prior two years.
- 2000 — Investigators obtain a warrant and take up Rick’s carpet (house being prepped for sale); stain on subfloor is not bodily fluid. Rick moved to Michigan in 2000.
- 2006 — John dies.
- 2007 — Detective Catherine Byron interviews Rick in Michigan (transcript reviewed in episode).
- 2008 — Sergeant Kisner interviews Rick (long interview not released publicly); electronics seized under warrant in Michigan, searched for evidence, returned later — reportedly damaged when returned.
- Over the years — >20 water searches, private and public sonar searches, various land/air searches; no car found.
Main theories discussed and evidence for/against each
- Husband (Rick) foul play:
- For: marital problems; public suspicion and family rumblings; he knew route home and claimed to have tried to call Bonnie.
- Against: lack of early forensic searches of his house/garage; no direct physical evidence presented publicly; life insurance payout inconclusive (policy on Rick, jointly cashed out to cover his financial obligation, payouts for death required legal death declaration in 2004).
- Accident / car in water:
- For: car never recovered; multiple small water bodies between bar and home; common explanation when cars vanish.
- Against: many water/sonar searches without success; route is not extremely rural — significant accidents would likely be detected; plate not entered early may have prevented detection.
- Affair partner (John) involvement:
- For: he saw Bonnie at the bar and waved her off; his daughter says he was worried on Friday; contradictory statements in file about when he knew she was missing.
- Against: police considered him credible and polygraphed him; he’s deceased so cannot be questioned further.
- Stranger / burglar-type attack (medium’s suggestion):
- For: medium asserted a stranger targeted Bonnie, described a burglar-type with a record and proximity, and suggested wooded area remains; anecdotal corroboration of “someone watching her” mentioned by John.
- Against: medium work is not corroborative evidence and is inherently speculative; no physical evidence ties an unknown burglar to the case.
- Voluntary disappearance:
- For: rare examples exist (e.g., Brenda Heist case referenced) and missing-persons occasionally reappear after many years.
- Against: Bonnie was close to children; little sign of planning; no confirmed contact.
Investigation criticisms / procedural issues
- Delayed, limited searches of Rick’s property and garage; house not searched until years later.
- Rick’s cell phone records were not obtained; investigators relied on verbal statements from Bonnie’s provider that showed no activity.
- Bonnie’s vehicle was not entered into national databases promptly, preventing potential plate hits.
- Apparent investigative focus on getting Rick to “slip up” rather than broad inquiry into other suspects or lines of inquiry.
- Records/evidence handling concerns: devices seized, returned allegedly damaged; a family member charged for a small amount of marijuana during Michigan search — straining relations.
Notable quotes / insights
- Rick (from 2007 interview): “I don’t think she would just voluntarily leave, especially her children.”
- Detective Byron: she believed the case was solvable and wanted to reassure Bonnie’s children their mom didn’t leave them deliberately.
- Host reaction: the family has lived with “ambiguous loss” — no accountability, no closure — for decades.
- Medium (Allison Dubois): told hosts she connected to Bonnie and felt Bonnie was deceased; described a stranger-type suspect and a wooded location for remains. (Presented as supplemental, not evidentiary.)
Unresolved questions & next steps suggested by the episode
- Who, if anyone, was watching Bonnie that night? Why was John reportedly worried on Friday, and why isn’t that clearly documented in police records?
- Where is Bonnie’s car? Why was the vehicle not entered into NCIC in 1997?
- Are there land locations (wooded trails/undeveloped/residential-construction areas like the Eagle Creek region suggested by the hosts) that merit re-checking with modern search techniques?
- Can any remaining witnesses (Anita, friends, coworkers) be encouraged to provide fuller statements now that many principal figures (including Rick and John) are deceased?
- Re-examine any preserved physical evidence, call logs, and archives with modern forensics and record-search capabilities if available.
How to help / contact information
- If you have information about Bonnie’s disappearance or her car, contact Detective Nicholas Hubbs, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department: 317-327-6160.
- Tip email provided by the podcast: tips@audiochuck.com.
Final note
The episode balances frustrations about investigative gaps with empathy for the family’s long, unresolved grief. It introduces nontraditional avenues (a medium’s reading) as possible investigative prompts — not proof — and urges anyone with information to come forward. All primary documents and sources referenced in the show are said to be available at crimejunkie.com.