Nearly nine years after 23-year-old Shannah Boiteau disappeared without a trace, authorities have confirmed that her skeletal remains have been found in Augusta, Minnesota — not far from where she was last seen.
On June 22, 2016, Boiteau was spotted fleeing barefoot from a vehicle driven by her boyfriend along a remote stretch of County Road 74, near Interstate 94 outside of St. Cloud, Minnesota. She left behind her shoes, phone, and purse before vanishing into the dense woods. Despite extensive searches and public pleas for help, Boiteau was never found — until now.
In a heartbreaking Facebook post on May 1, her father, Cletus Boiteau, confirmed the discovery:
“We would like to thank everyone who has reached out with their thoughts and prayers. From the bottom of our hearts, we can never thank you enough. This has been the hardest thing we have ever been through. Shannah was our firstborn and stole our hearts from the moment she arrived. Our hearts are broken and will never be whole again.”
According to an update from St. Cloud Police, Boiteau’s remains were discovered on Saturday, April 26, after recent drought conditions dried up an area that had previously been underwater. The property owner came across the remains and contacted authorities. They were positively identified on April 29.
Boiteau, originally from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, had reportedly gotten into an argument with her boyfriend before she ran from the car. At the time, police said she didn’t appear to have any known connections in the St. Cloud area. After initial searches yielded no leads, the case eventually went cold.
Her family and investigators are now left with lingering questions.
“Trust us when we say we have all the same questions that everyone else does,” Cletus wrote. “We will probably never know all the answers.”
The investigation into her death remains active, as authorities continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding her tragic disappearance.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in need of help, there are confidential resources available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or thehotline.org.