***UPDATE***
It is with a heavy heart we must announce that Laura Wolfe has been found and is deceased. It has been confirmed that Laura was murdered.
On July 19, 2020, family members of Laura WOLFE (46 YOA) reported her as a missing person to the Marion Illinois Police Department. As Illinois authorities continued to investigate, information developed that WOLFE had recently traveled through La Porte County.
On July 31, 2020, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) was made aware of the WOLFE missing person investigation being conducted by Illinois authorities. Members of CID began to provide assistance in the multi-agency investigation.
On August 21, 2020, articles belonging to WOLFE were located on property belonging to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD / South Shore Railway). The property was in rural Springfield Township, specifically between CR 300 West and CR 400 West.
The multi-agency investigation continued, and CID began to devote further resources to the investigation. Detective Sergeant Adam Hannon was assigned as the lead investigator for the LCSO.
On September 23, 2020, the entire CID and assisting agencies conducted a series of grid searches in Springfield Township related to the ongoing WOLFE investigation.
On October 28, 2020, a farmer harvesting corn located human remains in a field in Springfield Township, specifically along CR 800 North between CR 300 West and CR 400 West. The next day, CID along with several other agencies, processed the scene and conducted a series of additional grid searches. The area where the human remains were discovered were outside the scope of the original grid searches that commenced on September 23.
The human remains were transported to the University of Indianapolis for examination. Detective Sergeant Hannon and other members of CID continued to investigate. Early in the investigation, a person of interest, Lynn WARE Jr. (39 YOA) of Martin, Tennessee, developed into the disappearance of WOLFE.
In December of 2020, the human remains were identified as being that of WOLFE. Upon evaluating the investigation and forensic results, the La Porte County Coroner’s Office ruled the manner of WOLFE’S death as a homicide.
On December 22, 2020, Detective Sergeant Hannon signed a probable cause affidavit. Probable Cause was granted in La Porte County Superior Court I and an arrest warrant was issued for WARE for the offense of Murder.
In the following days, Sergeant Hannon called upon the members of the Fugitive Apprehension Street Team (FAST) to assist in locating WARE. On December 31, 2020, WARE was taken into custody in O’Fallon, Illinois. WARE waived extradition and will be transported to the La Porte County Jail.
The investigation remains open and ongoing. No further information is available for release.
Assisting: Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Marshal Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, Berrien County (MI) Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, La Porte Police Department, Kankakee (IL) Police Department and the La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
*****CONTINUED UPDATES BELOW*****
Missing Persons Awareness Network NFP 501(c)3 would like to give a special thanks to the Marion Police Department (Williamson County, Illinois) Detectives who did an incredible job investigating Laura's disappearance and working with Laura's family, keeping them aware as best as they can.
Laura lived in Marion, Illinois when a 'friend' of hers, Lynn Ware aka 'Snoop' asked her to go with him to Michigan on a road trip. She did. During their trip it was known that they were at a hotel, and they were fighting while Laura was on the phone with a witness who overheard them arguing. Laura asked for a ticket for public transportation to bring her back home the following day. Laura never made it home. Laura was never seen or heard from again.
Laura's phone was turned off shortly after that call. Lynn Ware's vehicle that was used for them to travel was located abandoned in Kankakee County, Illinois. Some of Laura's belongings were located on the side of a rural road in Indiana December 2020. Lynn Ware was charged with First Degree Murder after Laura's remains were located in LaPorte County, Indiana on December 22, 2020.
Ware has since been tested for mental incompetence and was transferred to a mental institution. He was found incompetent to stand trial back in April 2021, but has now been re-evaluated and after multiple evaluations it has been shown that Ware had reached proficiency and is fit to stand trial.
As of December 2022, Court continues for July, 20, 2023. yes that's right. Another year. That's just the Pretrial Conference. August 10, 2023 is the final Pre jury Conference, and the Jury Trial is set for August 21, 2023.
OBITUARY
Laura Wolfe, 46, of Marion, IL, passed away unexpectedly in La Porte County.
Cremation will take place. Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte (219) 362-3100 is caring for the arrangements.
Please send condolences to the family at www.LakeviewFHC.com.
Rest in peace Laura...
