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Detective Perspective

123: DISAPPEARANCE and DEATH: Chuck Rutherford and Lana Stempien

Detective Perspective

Derrick Levasseur & Square Mile Studios

True Crime

4.92K Ratings

🗓️ 7 February 2026

⏱️ 63 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On the morning of August 12, 2005, a boater on Lake Huron came across a cabin cruiser drifting alone in the water, struggling against the wind and waves. When the Coast Guard arrived, they found the boat in neutral, with the radio still playing, and no one on board. 

The boat belonged to attorneys Lana Stempien and Chuck Rutherford, who had set out days earlier on a planned trip to Mackinac Island. There was no sign of them anywhere. 

Police quickly opened a missing persons investigation, and according to many, what investigators uncovered didn’t add up.

Then, nearly two weeks later, Lana’s body was recovered. Chuck was never found. To this day, what happened on that boat remains a mystery, leaving everyone wondering: what happened to Lana Stempien and Chuck Rutherford? 

If you have any information in this case, please call the Michigan State Police at 906-643-7582.

Editor: Shannon Keirce
Research/Writing: Haley Gray

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

On the morning of August 12, 2005, a boater on Lake Huron came across a cabin cruiser drifting alone in the water, struggling against a wind and waves.

0:18.9

When the Coast Guard arrived, they found the boat in

0:21.3

neutral with the radio still playing and no one on board. The boat belonged to attorneys

0:27.2

Lana Stempian and Chuck Rutherford, who had set out days earlier on a planned trip to

0:32.2

Mackinac Island. There was no sign of them anywhere. Police quickly opened a missing person's investigation, and according to many, what

0:40.9

investigators uncovered didn't add up.

0:43.9

Then, nearly two weeks later, Lana's body was recovered.

0:48.0

Chuck has never been found.

0:50.6

To this day, what happened on that boat remains a mystery, leaving everyone wondering what happened to Lana Stempion and Chuck Rutherford.

1:36.8

Theirthead. Hey, everyone, welcome back to Detective Perspective. My name is Derek Lavasser. I'm a licensed private investigator and former police detective.

1:44.7

Each week I'll be covering an unsolved case and story format. I'll then give you my perspective on the investigation and provide contact information for the individuals or organizations connected to the case so that if you have any tips,

1:49.6

you can contact them directly, and maybe you can help solve a case. So if you're someone who's

1:54.5

interested in true crime, specifically on solved cases, and you would like to hear my

1:59.1

opinion on those investigations, please consider

2:01.9

subscribing whether you're watching on YouTube or listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or whatever

2:07.5

platform you use.

2:09.0

Now, before I get into this week's case, I do want to apologize for the tardiness.

2:13.8

I don't know exactly when you're going to be seeing this one.

2:16.6

It's probably going to be Sunday, if I had to guess, which is why.

2:20.2

If you're watching on YouTube, I'm wearing my Drake May t-shirt for the Super Bowl.

2:25.5

Thank you for all the well wishes.

2:27.4

Everyone who's DMed me, emailed me, commented under the other recent videos.

...

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