MARSHALL, Mich. (WOOD) — "Dateline NBC" is shining the light on the cold case of Mary Lands, 15 years after she vanished from her Calhoun County home.
Lands was last seen alive on March 12, 2004 by her boyfriend at the time, Chris Pratt.
Pratt is a long-time person of interest in the case, but has never been charged in connection to Lands' disappearance. However, he was paroled in November 2013 after serving more than six years in prison for holding another former girlfriend against her will.
Pratt said he got into an argument with Lands, then 39, and she walked out of their home, leaving her cellphone, keys and her new Dodge Durango. But aprivate investigator told "Dateline"that a friend who came to pick up Lands was told by Pratt that Lands wasn’t available to go out anymore.
Investigators told "Dateline" they immediately questioned Pratt in the case, but he grew quiet and stopped reaching out to investigators. Marshall police told "Dateline" they haven’t heard from him since April 2004.
A judge declared Lands legally dead in April 2011, after investigators testified there were no signs she was alive.
This year marked the first time there was no memorial event for Lands, but Marshall police say they’ve not given up on solving the case. Anyone with information in this case is encouraged to contact the Marshall Police Department at 269.781.2596 orprivate investigator Jim Carlinat 269.274.6334.