Melissa Beson photo courtesy LDF Police Department

For information resulting in the return of Melissa Beson, 37, who has been missing from a Vilas County reservation since March 17, and/or the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in Beson’s disappearance, the Lac du Flambeau (LDF) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is offering a reward of $25,000.

“Melissa’s family desperately wants to know where she is, and the Tribe is fully committed to helping its law enforcement agency exhaust every investigative resource to find her and bring her home,” said T.J. Bill, LDF Tribal Police Chief, in a press release.

Beson is a Native American female, 5’7”, with a medium build, brown hair and brown eyes.  She has numerous tattoos, including on her neck, arms and legs.

She was reported missing on March 23, 2025.  The last confirmed sighting of her was on Monday, March 17, 2025, during the late afternoon. At that time, Beson was observed walking on Indian Village Road, near Wayman Lane, in Lac du Flambeau. When last seen, she wore red sweatpants, a black sleeveless shirt and a gray sweatshirt. 

“The Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department (LDFTPD) remains steadfast in its investigation into Melissa’s disappearance,” said Bill.  “Every lead, no matter how small, is being thoroughly pursued to find her. Authorities have searched relentlessly in the area where Melissa was last seen, as well as other areas of interest.  LDFTPD Officers and assisting agencies have conducted grid searches on foot, have deployed high-tech drones and airplanes, and have searched using specially trained canines. To date, over 3,400 acres have been carefully searched.”

Based on the information his office has received, Bill told the Wisconsin Examiner two theories about Beson’s disappearance have been pursued: she either walked out into the forest and became lost and is probably deceased, or she left the area and is living with other persons.

Besides the large-scale searches for Beson, coordination with other law enforcement agencies has been conducted regarding reports of Beson being in another community in the Wausau area, but follow-up investigations have yet to produce any information on Beson’s whereabouts.

“The reward offered by the Tribe will be apportioned as deemed just by the Tribe, in the event, for example, multiple credible tips are received, which lead to the discovery of Melissa Beson and/or the arrest and charging of anyone responsible for her disappearance,” said Bill.

Employees of law enforcement and correctional agencies are not eligible to collect the reward.

Anyone with information regarding Beson’s disappearance or location is asked to call the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department at (715) 588-7717 or the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office at (715) 479-4441.