She left work like any other night, getting into a car with someone she didn't know. Her family has never stopped asking who that person was — or why the case went cold so fast.
Who Was Marina
Marina Pearl Boelter, born in July 1996, grew up in Hamilton, Indiana, and later moved to Bloomfield with her sister to be closer to family. At 18, she was working at a local grocery store and had recently moved into her own apartment.
The Disappearance
On the evening of December 31, 2014, Marina finished her shift and left with an unfamiliar man in his car, according to her boyfriend at the time, DJ Lockhart. She was never seen again. Coworkers filed a missing person report the next day when she failed to show up for work. Her purse, phone, and keys were missing from her apartment, though nothing else appeared disturbed.
The Investigation
Investigators identified and questioned a customer believed to have given Marina a ride, who told police he had dropped her off near a pizza shop close to her home at her own request, and was ultimately ruled out as a suspect. Marina's family has said they were never given his identity, and later learned he had prior convictions for kidnapping and rape — details that have deepened their unease about how thoroughly he was investigated.
A Second Tragedy
About six weeks after Marina's disappearance, DJ Lockhart, 22, was fatally stabbed following an altercation in Bloomfield. Police have said his death is not connected to Marina's case. Marina's sister-in-law, Ashley Boelter, has publicly said she believes otherwise, citing what she described as a pattern of abuse by Lockhart toward Marina, including a broken collarbone.
Where the Case Stands
Marina's disappearance remains unsolved, with no new tips or leads reported in recent years according to investigators. Her family continues to seek information through a dedicated "Find Marina Boelter" Facebook page.
FAQ
Has Marina Boelter ever been found?
No. She remains missing, and her case is unsolved.
Was the man who gave her a ride ever charged?
No. He was investigated and ruled out as a suspect, though his identity has never been publicly disclosed to the family.
Is Marina's disappearance connected to DJ Lockhart's death?
Police have said the two cases are not related, though Marina's family has publicly expressed doubt about that conclusion.