Episode 7: The Murder of Melissa Simmons

June in northern Michigan is a time that residents look forward to all year. The harsh days of winter have gone, the mud and rain of spring are mostly behind us, and summer has reared her beautiful face. For fifteen-year-old, Melissa Simmons the summer of 1993 was full of promise.

Melissa Simmons

June in northern Michigan is a time that residents look forward to all year. The harsh days of winter have gone, the mud and rain of spring are mostly behind us, and summer has reared her beautiful face.

For fifteen-year-old, Melissa Simmons the summer of 1993 was full of promise. She’d just finished her freshman year at Mason County Central High School and started a new summer job at the Blue Lake Resort. Wednesday June 23rd had been warm and sunny reaching in the upwards of eighty degrees during the day. The warmth lingered that evening with temperatures hovering in the 60s.

Melissa, Missy to her family and friends, left her parents’ home to walk to a friends a few blocks away. More than a week later, Melissa decomposing body would be found floating in the Pere Marquette River.

Just three days after the discovery of her body, more than 50,000 people would flood into Ludington Michigan, just miles from Melissa’s home to watch the 4th of July parade and evening fireworks.

This month marks 27 years since the unsolved murder of Melissa Simmons.

Ludington Daily News: Melissa Simmons Mystery Unresolved

9&10 News: The Melissa Simmons Case

Ludington Daily News Archive: July 3, 1993

Ludington Daily News Archive: July 5, 1993

Delayed Justice.com: Melissa Simmons

Mason County History Companion: Scottville History

3WWMT: Murder Mystery

3WWMT: Records show Allegan County man had a history of violence prior to cold case arrest

MLive: Jeffrey Willis Trial

The Murder Squad: The Jeffrey Willis Case

Oxygen: Dennis Bowman

Facebook Post: Michigan Lost Missing