Vanishing Point

On a warm June night in 2018, 23-year-old Jermain “Liz” Austin Charlo walked out of a Missoula alley and into a mystery that still grips Montana—and the nation. A mother of two and a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Jermain was vibrant, creative, and planning a new chapter. She loved fishing, hiking, and art. She was applying for a firefighting job and dreaming of college. Her life was full of promise. Then, she vanished.

The Last Known Steps

June 15, 2018. Downtown Missoula. Jermain spent the evening visiting bars with friends—the Badlander, Golden Rose, and Dark Horse. Surveillance cameras captured her in an alley behind The Badlander around midnight. She was chatting with friends. Nearby stood her ex-boyfriend, Michael DeFrance. Moments later, they walked east, out of view. That was the last confirmed sighting.

DeFrance’s story changed over time. First, he said he dropped her at Orange Street Food Farm. Later, he claimed a residential street, where she was meeting a friend named “Cassidy.” Investigators never found Cassidy. Hours later, Jermain’s phone pinged near Evaro Hill—close to DeFrance’s home. He admitted the phone was in his car and said he threw it away two days later along an Idaho highway. It was never recovered.

Years of Questions, Few Answers

Search teams combed Missoula and the Flathead Reservation. No body. No decisive forensic evidence. The case triggered a federal probe into DeFrance’s gun purchases, resulting in a conviction later overturned on appeal. For Jermain’s family, that legal twist brought a momentary sense of accountability—but no closure.

In 2025, Oxygen’s Cold Justice revisited the case, framing it as a likely homicide and spotlighting DeFrance as the primary person of interest. Still, no charges have been filed. The official status remains: missing under suspicious circumstances.

Why This Case Matters

Jermain’s disappearance is part of a larger crisis. Indigenous women go missing or are murdered at rates far beyond their population share. Families face jurisdictional tangles, delayed urgency, and systemic gaps that cost precious time. Advocates call for rapid-response protocols, better data, and culturally competent victim services. Because justice delayed is justice denied.

The Human Cost

For Jermain’s family, life moves in two tracks: daily routines and the relentless search. They organize walks, speak to media, and keep her name alive. They remind us: someone knows something. A single detail—a vehicle, a conversation, a location—could unlock the truth.

Theories Investigators Consider

Domestic Violence Escalation

The most prominent theory involves a confrontation with a prior partner. Surveillance footage, shifting stories, and the phone ping near Evaro Hill all point toward this possibility.

Drug-Related Activity

Some speculate that drug connections may have intersected with Jermain’s movements that night, though evidence remains thin.

Sex Trafficking

While trafficking is a risk in nightlife corridors, investigators have not found strong links in this case.

The No-Body Challenge

Prosecuting a homicide without a body is rare but possible. It requires a mosaic of circumstantial evidence—digital records, witness statements, and behavioral patterns. In Jermain’s case, the puzzle pieces exist, but they don’t yet form a picture strong enough for court.

The Bigger Picture: MMIW Crisis

Jermain’s story echoes a national emergency. Indigenous women are far more likely to experience violence or disappear, yet their cases often receive less attention. Advocates push for reforms:

Rapid-response protocols for missing Indigenous persons.

Data transparency to track cases and trends.

Jurisdictional clarity between tribal, state, and federal agencies.

Victim services funding to support families during long investigations.

What You Can Do

Share Jermain’s story on social media.

Support MMIW organizations and awareness campaigns.

If you have information, contact law enforcement immediately. Even the smallest detail can matter.

Closing Thought

Jermain Charlo’s story is unfinished. But it is not forgotten. Until answers come, we hold space for her—and for every family still waiting.

All of my research and sources can be seen at https://caseconnect.co/public/case/7d55b12d-11a1-42be-8556-61565996eae2/