Rebecca Kay Park Obituary, Death News – Authorities in northern Michigan are continuing their investigation into the disappearance and death of 22-year-old Rebecca Kay Park, a pregnant woman who had been missing since early November. Park, who was nearly full term in her pregnancy, was last seen on November 3, and her disappearance prompted extensive community search efforts and widespread concern among family, friends, and residents of Wexford County.
On Tuesday, a volunteer who participated in one of the organized search efforts reported that they located a body believed to be Park. Later that evening, both the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan State Police held a press conference confirming that a body had indeed been discovered within the Manistee National Forest in Boon Township. Although the location and circumstances align with the ongoing search for Park, investigators emphasized that positive identification cannot be made until an autopsy is completed. They stressed that it remains an active investigation and that further information will be released once officials have more conclusive findings.
Authorities reiterated that Park was last seen outside a relative’s home on South 21 1/2 Road in Boon Township on November 3. Witnesses reported that she entered a dark-colored vehicle, though she did not indicate who was picking her up. This has become an important detail in the ongoing investigation, as deputies work to determine who she met with and where she may have gone afterward.
Family members stated that Park’s cellphone was later recovered, discarded along a two-track road not far from where she was last seen. This discovery raised additional concerns among loved ones, especially since Park had not contacted anyone since that day. Her mother, Courtney Bartholomew, was the final person to speak with her, making the sudden lack of communication particularly distressing for the family.
Investigators also noted that Park had recently received approximately $2,000 from a family inheritance on the same day she went missing. According to officials, the cash might have allowed her to travel without leaving a digital trail, though Park’s friends and relatives have said they do not believe she intended to separate herself from her support system or voluntarily disappear, especially given her advanced pregnancy. They described her as someone excited to welcome her baby and very connected to her family.
The sheriff’s office and state police have been careful not to release premature conclusions about how the discovered body came to be in the national forest or what events may have led to Park’s disappearance. Both agencies continue to process evidence, interview individuals, and examine digital records that might shed light on the timeline of what happened.
Throughout the search, community members expressed sympathy and concern, sharing Park’s photo, offering assistance, and joining organized search efforts. Park was described as approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall and around 140 pounds, and her case drew considerable attention in local media as days passed with no sign of her whereabouts.
At this time, the sheriff’s office is urging the public to avoid speculation and allow investigators the time needed to complete their work. They reaffirmed their commitment to a thorough investigation and encouraged anyone with information, even if it seems minor, to come forward.
As the community awaits official confirmation from the autopsy and additional updates from law enforcement, Park’s family continues to ask for privacy, support, and compassion during this extremely difficult period. Authorities say more details will be shared as the investigation progresses and once identification is finalized.
