The disappearance of a Missouri couple from their secluded rural home has become a troubling mystery, leaving investigators searching for answers and relatives urgently asking for their safe return.
Leo Lindeman, 73, and his wife, Katherine Lindeman, 74, were last seen on September 15 and are believed to have disappeared the following day, according to the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office.
The couple lived with their small white dog, Itty Bitty, at a remote property near Anderson, a southwestern Missouri community in the foothills of the Ozarks.
Itty Bitty is also missing, authorities said. The Lindemans were officially reported missing on September 24, although investigators have not disclosed who filed the report.
McDonald County Sheriff Robert Evenson told KNWA that the Lindemans were “private people,” meaning it was not unusual for neighbors to go some time without hearing from them.
“We’ve got a bit of a mystery,” Evenson said.
Leo’s sister, Leza Lindeman, said the family has joined the effort because they are deeply concerned about the couple. “We do love our brother and that’s why we’re here, is because we’re worried about them,” she told the outlet.
With emotion in her voice, she urged anyone with possible information to contact investigators, even if the detail seems insignificant. “If anybody has any information, even if you think it’s not important, please do give the police a call,” she said.
Missouri residents Leo Lindeman, 73, and Katherine Lindeman, 74, were last seen on September 15 before disappearing from their rural home
The couple’s small white dog, Itty Bitty, is missing as well. A formal missing persons report was filed on September 24
The McDonald County Sheriff’s Office issued a missing persons poster for the Lindemans. Sheriff Robert Evenson said investigators are facing “a bit of a mystery”
Several days after the couple was reported missing, the sheriff’s office secured a search warrant for their home, Evenson said.
Investigators dusted the residence for fingerprints and removed electronic devices and trace evidence that could provide leads as the case develops, Evenson told KNWA.
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Authorities have also searched the property surrounding the home, along with nearby parcels, according to the sheriff.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Leo’s niece, LaShawnda Lindeman, said relatives and law enforcement had spent several days combing the area around the residence.
On Monday, family members brought in a private drone operator, who surveyed the property from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. A search-and-rescue team and a dog then assisted for several additional hours, she wrote.
Additional relatives returned to the property the next day, Tuesday.
Working alongside the sheriff’s office, a second company supplied two more drones and three search dogs. A large group of searchers spent the entire day examining the area, LaShawnda said.
In total, about 15 acres were thoroughly searched. “Unfortunately, we did not find Leo, Katherine, or anything that gave us answers as to where they may be,” she said.
Leo’s family continues to appeal for information that could help bring the couple home. Leo and Itty Bitty are pictured together
Police have conducted a search of the couple’s home but have not uncovered any promising leads so far, the sheriff said. Katherine is pictured
Leo’s niece said family members, police and private companies have searched the area around the home (pictured) with drones and dogs for days but came back empty-handed
‘We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped search, shared their information, reached out, or offered support. Please continue sharing and helping us get the word out,’ LaShawnda continued.
‘We just want to bring them home and get answers,’ she concluded her post.
Sheriff Evenson told KODE12 that the investigation is ongoing, though there has been a ‘frustrating’ lack of evidence or leads thus far.
‘We’d like to have some leads, some solid leads, that will get us moving in the right direction, and I’m hopeful that will happen,’ he said.