17-Year Mystery Solved: Plane Wreck and Remains Found in Lake Huron
A private search team discovered the wreckage of a plane that vanished in 2007, along with the remains of a missing passenger. State police confirmed the identity using forensic anthropology.
In a significant development, a 17-year-old aviation mystery has been resolved in the waters of Lake Huron. A private search team has located the wreckage of a small aircraft that disappeared in 2007, along with the remains of a long-missing passenger.
The Michigan State Police confirmed that the discovered remains belong to H. Brooke Stauffer Jr., a 56-year-old resident of Washington, D.C. Stauffer was a passenger on a Socata TB-20 Trinidad that departed from Mackinac Island in August 2007, destined for a small town in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
The plane, piloted by Stauffer's fiancee Karen Dodds, vanished shortly after takeoff. While Dodds' remains were recovered two months after the incident east of the Mackinac Bridge, the aircraft and Stauffer remained unaccounted for until recently.
The breakthrough came in August 2024 when Great Lakes Search & Recovery, a private company engaged by the families, discovered plane wreckage near Bois Blanc Island. Subsequently, state police divers recovered skeletal remains from the site. The Center for Forensic Anthropology at Northern Michigan University confirmed Stauffer's identity using dental records.
This discovery highlights the persistence of search efforts and the advancements in forensic science. Lake Huron, one of the five Great Lakes of North America, is known for its vast expanse and challenging search conditions. With over 30,000 islands, it is the most island-rich lake in the world, complicating recovery operations.
Stauffer was a prominent figure in his field, serving as the director of standards and safety for the National Electrical Contractors Association. His obituary described him as a prolific writer, having authored technical books, magazine articles, a children's novel, and a guidebook for Washington, D.C.
Karen Dodds, 52 at the time of the incident, was a successful entrepreneur, running Dodds Design, a graphic web design and marketing company based in Washington.
The resolution of this case brings attention to the ongoing challenges of aviation safety over large bodies of water. Lake Huron, containing part of the 21% of the world's surface fresh water found in the Great Lakes, is home to over 1,000 shipwrecks, many of which serve as popular diving sites.
This incident also underscores the importance of continued search efforts in cold cases. The involvement of private search teams, working in conjunction with law enforcement, can lead to closure for families affected by such tragedies.
As the investigation concludes, it serves as a reminder of the risks associated with small aircraft travel over large water bodies and the enduring impact of unresolved mysteries on families and communities.
"In October 2023, Great Lakes Search & Recovery, a private company, resumed the search efforts at the request of family members. In August of 2024, members of the search team discovered plane wreckage near Bois Blanc Island."
