Mary Denise Lands - Missing since March 12, 2004

[Mary]

http://www.charleyproject.org/images/l/lands_mary.jpg http://www.charleyproject.org/images/l/lands_mary2.jpg
Above Images: Lands, circa 2004


Vital Statistics at Time of DisappearanceMissing Since: March 12, 2004 from Marshall, Michigan
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date of Birth: September 3, 1964
Age: 38 years old
Height and Weight: 5'6, 160 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Lands's ears and navel are pierced and she has a scar on her left arm from a polio vaccination. She wears brown-framed glasses for reading. Lands has a ripped right earlobe and has a brown birthmark on her buttocks. Her maiden name is Marshall and she may go by the name Mary Denise Marshall Lands.
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A hospital scrub shirt with a print, blue hospital scrub pants with the cartoon character Sponge Bob printed on them, slip-on sneakers with no heel, and a brown leather jacket.


Details of DisappearanceLands was last seen between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. on March 12, 2004, walking away from her apartment in the vicinity of the 1200 block of Arms Street in Marshall, Michigan. She had an argument with her live-in fiance, Christopher Pratt, that evening. Lands may have been intoxicated at the time. She became upset and told Pratt she was going for a walk, and he saw her walking around the carport. She never returned home and has never been heard from again. She left her clothes, cellular phone, engagement ring and keys behind at her home, but she took her white mesh purse with her. Her brother reported her missing.


Pratt is considered to be a person of interest in Lands's disappearance, although he is not being called a suspect. He had a history of domestic violence in his first marriage. In 2007, he was arrested for assaulting his live-in girlfriend. He was convicted of unlawful imprisonment and criminal sexual conduct in that case, but he has never been charged in connection with Lands's disappearance. A photograph of Pratt is posted below this case summary.

Dogs tracked Lands's scent to a nearby motel after she went missing. There was no indication of her whereabouts at the motel, however. Lands's has not used her bank account or credit cards since her disappearance. Police are calling her disappearance suspicious. Lands has two adult children. Most of her family lives in California; her parents moved there only days before her disappearance. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance; her case remains unsolved.
http://www.charleyproject.org/images/l/lands_pratt.jpg
Above: Christopher Pratt

Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Marshall Police Department
269-781-2596

Source Information
The National Center for Missing Adults (http://www.theyaremissed.org/ncma/)
Digital Channel 3 (http://www.wwmt.com/)
WKLM Radio (http://www.wlkm.com/)
Wood TV (http://www.woodtv.com/)
The Battle Creek Enquirer (http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/)
Missing Persons Throughout the World (http://www.mispers.com/)
Mary Marshall Lands Missing Since March 12, 2004 (http://www.maryshope.com/)
MySpace Page for Mary Lands (http://www.myspace.com/justiceformary)

Updated 4 times since October 12, 2004.
Last updated January 19, 2008; details of disappearance updated.
Charley Project Home (http://www.charleyproject.org/index.html)

[Mary]

The following was copied and pasted with permission from:

Jim Carlin
Justinian Investigative Services
344 Clayton Avenue
Battle Creek, Michigan U.S.A. 49017-5218
Tx: 269.441.7068

A Mother and Father ask "WHY???"

Marshall, Michigan

Cliff & Anita Marshall composed this Letter to the Editor, which was published by Shelly Sulser, Editor, of the Marshall Chronicle on November 6, 2006. Their letter was also published in the Battle Creek Enquirer on November 19, 2006.

A Mother & Father Ask, "WHY?"

March 2004 was supposed to be a wonderful time for our family. We would soon be great-grandparents, and our daughter Mary would be a grandmother. We had just moved to California but little did we know that March 2004 would turn into a nightmare from which we would never recover.

A phone call on Sunday, March 16, 2004 informed us our daughter Mary was missing. Something was terribly wrong and we called the Marshall Police to investigate. After several hours they said Mary and her boyfriend had an argument on Friday, March 12 at about 10:00 P.M. He claimed after the argument she walked away from their apartment in 13-degree weather wearing only lightweight clothing and her favorite brown leather jacket and a purse- no keys, no cell phone and no car.

Our move West left Mary with no one in Michigan to advocate on her behalf and we needed to help find her. We packed up again and drove 3,000 miles back to Marshall to a horror that ensues to this day.

A week after Mary disappeared; the Marshall Police dismissed the FBI and a Task Force. It's been a very long 32 months since our Mary disappeared. 32 months our hearts have ached, 32 months we have cried ourselves to sleep, 32 months of searching and waiting for information. Imagine the anxiety and pain you feel when another body is found? Praying it's our beloved Mary, so we can finally put her to rest; but praying it?s not her, because it's the final end. 32 months she hasn't seen or talked to her son, daughter, sisters or brother, 32 months of never knowing her grandson. 32 months without our Mary.

We are so lonely for her and our fight to find Justice for Mary. It has been very frustrating. She would never walk away. It wasn't her nature. She was excited about being a grandmother and planning her vacation to California.
We later learned that during the 3-year relationship with her boyfriend she was a severely battered woman, both physically and mentally. She received broken fingers, broken toes, a dislocated shoulder, and many many bruises from being battered. WHY?

Please help us find Mary Denise Marshall-Lands.

From Her Beloved Family "You'll never be forgotten and we'll never stop looking for you!"

Clifford & Anita Marshall

[Mary]

A message from the investigator:

Approximately 3 years ago Jim Carlin decided to provide some assistance to the family of Clifford & Anita Marshall concerning the mysterious disappearance of their daughter, Mary. The City of Marshall, Police Department made many mistakes and mishandled the investigations however the time for criticism and acrimony on both sides should come to an end. We wish to go forward into the New Year of 2007 with the objective of a successful criminal prosecution of the person/s responsible for the disappearance and murder of Mary Denise Lands.

The Michigan State Police is focusing on this goal and we believe the case will soon be solved. There is not much that one person can do, however to date I've donated over 6,600 hours of time and numerous resources to bring hope to the family, and my agency is providing investigative services pro-bono to the Marshall family. Many other friends and neighbors from throughout Marshall, Battle Creek and even other parts of the country have joined us in Mary's search.

They have also donated their time and services in the search for Mary Lands. Her family deeply appreciates all this help and they know that through everyone's efforts they will soon have the answers they are seeking. This current site will be fully related only to the circumstances and investigation of Mary Denise Lands who disappeared from her residence in Marshall, Michigan on March 12, 2004.

Previously we utilized a boating safety web site, Boaters Against Drunk Driving, National BADD- www.BADD.org as a forum for information about Mary's disappearance. Most of the material on that site has already been transitioned to this one and it will include much more about the case. You also can view other information on Mary's Blog www.JusticeforMary.blogspot.com (http://www.JusticeforMary.blogspot.com)

The family of Clifford & Anita Marshall, Mary's parent's, continue to ask help from the public with two crucial questions. Where is Mary? and, When will we have justice for Mary?

Jim Carlin Justinian Investigative Services 344 Clayton Avenue Battle Creek, Michigan U.S.A. 49017-5218 Tx: 269.441.7068