Marina Boelter

Case Information:

Marina Pearl Boelter was 18 years old when she vanished from Bloomfield, Indiana on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2014, after finishing her shift at a local grocery store.

Marina had been working hard to turn her life around and build a stable future for herself and her infant son. She had recently moved into her own apartment and was employed at the IGA Deli in downtown Bloomfield.

As 2014 drew to a close, Marina had plans to attend a house party that evening to celebrate the New Year with friends.

Her young son, who was less than a year old at the time, was in foster care following an earlier incident, and Marina was working diligently to regain custody through scheduled visitations and maintaining steady employment.

Case Details:

Marina’s shift at the IGA Deli ended around 6:00 PM on December 31, 2014. According to her ex-boyfriend, Douglas “DJ” Lockhart, who was the father of her infant son, Marina left the grocery store parking lot in a vehicle driven by an unknown older man.

The man was driving a metallic-colored Mercury Milan manufactured between 2009 and 2011. The vehicle had distinctive features including multi-spoke rims, a spoiler, and a bluetooth or shark fin antenna on the roof.

Marina had asked the man to drop her off at a closed pizza parlor near her apartment because she didn’t want him to know exactly where she lived. The last ping from Marina’s cell phone was detected near her apartment around the time she was believed to have been dropped off.

Timeline of Events:

• December 31, 2014 – 6:00 PM: Marina finished her shift at the IGA Deli in Bloomfield. Witnesses, including her ex‑boyfriend DJ Lockhart, reported seeing her leave the grocery store parking lot in a metallic‑colored Mercury Milan driven by an unknown older man she had met at the store.
• December 31, 2014 – Evening: The man dropped Marina off at a closed pizza restaurant near her apartment, as she had requested. This was done to prevent him from learning her exact address. Her phone pinged near her apartment shortly after.
• December 31, 2014 – Late Evening: Marina never arrived at the house party she had planned to attend. Friends and acquaintances expected her to show up for New Year’s Eve celebrations, but she never appeared.
• January 1, 2015: Marina failed to show up for her scheduled work shift at the IGA. Her coworkers, knowing this was completely out of character for the reliable young mother, grew concerned.
• January 1, 2015: Marina missed a scheduled visitation with her infant son, who was in foster care. This was particularly alarming, as she had been faithfully attending every visitation and working hard to regain custody. Her coworkers reported her missing to authorities.

Investigation:

The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Unit took over the case and conducted an extensive investigation into Marina’s disappearance. Investigators tracked down the man who had given Marina a ride from the IGA that evening.

According to reports, the man confirmed he had given Marina a ride and dropped her off at the pizza restaurant as she requested.

While this individual had prior criminal convictions for abduction and rape, investigators reportedly ruled him out as a suspect in Marina’s disappearance.

His identity was never publicly released, and Marina’s family was never given his name—a source of ongoing frustration for loved ones seeking answers.

Community Response:

Marina’s disappearance galvanized the small community of Bloomfield and surrounding Greene County.

Her sister-in-law, Ashley Boelter, created a Facebook page called “Find Marina Boelter” to raise awareness and keep Marina’s story in the public eye.

Multiple billboards featuring Marina’s photograph and case information were erected throughout the region. Marina’s mother, Tressie Boelter, became a tireless advocate for her daughter, even dyeing her hair a vivid purple—Marina’s favorite color—as a tribute and a constant reminder of her missing child.

The local community rallied around the family with search efforts, fundraisers, and ongoing support.

Family Statements:

Marina’s mother, Tressie, campaigned relentlessly for answers until her death in 2021. She passed away never knowing what happened to her daughter—a tragedy that compounded the grief.

Ashley Boelter, Marina’s sister-in-law, has been vocal about the family’s frustration with the investigation.

“There’s no way with how small the town is that nobody knows what happened to her,” Ashley said. “We just want an ending, as opposed to the torment of never knowing what happened. How could nobody know? It just doesn’t make sense.”

Physical Appearance:

Marina was a white female with blonde hair and blue eyes. She stood 5’6″ tall and weighed approximately 105 pounds.

It is unknown what clothing Marina was wearing when she disappeared from the IGA on New Year’s Eve.

Current Status:

Investigators believe Marina met with foul play shortly after being dropped off at the pizza restaurant in December.

Adding to the mystery and tragedy surrounding Marina’s case, her ex-boyfriend Douglas “DJ” Lockhart—the father of her infant son and the last known person to see her leave the IGA—was stabbed to death just six weeks after her disappearance in February 2015.

While authorities have stated they found no evidence connecting his murder to Marina’s disappearance, Marina’s family has long suspected DJ knew more about what happened to her than he revealed before his death.

Family members noted that DJ had a history of domestic violence toward Marina, including an incident where he broke her collarbone.

Further complicating the case, a man who lived in Marina’s apartment building at the time of her disappearance had a prior conviction for torture and murder.

The Indiana State Police continue to classify Marina’s disappearance as an active investigation, though lead investigator First Sergeant Paul Suding has stated that the vehicle lead provided by DJ Lockhart was exhausted years ago.

Marina’s case is listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) under case number MP27383.

Her case has been featured on Investigation Discovery’s “Still a Mystery: Missing Blue Eyes” and NBC’s “Missing in America” series.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation also maintains a listing for Marina in their Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) database.

Contact Information:

Have info? Please contact First Sergeant Paul Suding at the Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Unit at (812) 332-4411 or call the main Indiana State Police tip line at (317) 232-8248.

You can also contact the FBI’s ViCAP or submit tips anonymously. Marina’s infant son, now a teenager, deserves to know what happened to his mother.

---