Wisconsin FBI Cold Case: Nearly 40 Years Since the Murder of a Tribal Princess

This Wisconsin FBI cold case has now been nearly 40 years in the making. Murdered at the age of 18; she was a daughter, a mother, a cultural ambassador, and a beloved member of the Menominee Nation. Her name was Rae Elaine Tourtillott. She was known for her vibrant spirit and deep connection to her heritage. She was even crowned Menominee Princess in 1984 and was said to be a skilled fancy dancer, as was customary in her tradition. Much of this information can be found in a write-up by Tegan Swanson of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Task Force of Wisconsin.

But on the night of October 15th, 1986, her future was stolen. She vanished after attending a birthday party on the Menominee Reservation in Wisconsin. Her absence the following morning was thought to be immediately alarming, especially to those who knew her. She was not someone who would neglect the responsibility of her seven-week-old daughter, Alysse, waiting at home. When she failed to check in or return to her baby, as well as attend a family wedding,  her loved ones knew something was very wrong.

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For six months, the Tourtillott family and the Menominee community searched for answers. Time stretched on, and hope faded for the family with no word of Rae Elaine’s whereabouts. Her body was finally discovered in a remote, wooded area on the Menominee reservation in April 1987. In an interview with wisconsinlife.org, one of Rae Elaine's cousins mentioned that a part of her body was discovered in a beaver dam. According to Rae's family and friends, the case did not receive the immediate attention it needed.

Andrea Lemke-Rochon, Rae Elaine’s cousin and a member of Wisconsin’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Task Force, has since pointed to the systemic failures that plagued the investigation.  Tribal police, local law enforcement, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the FBI all had important roles throughout the case. Yet, the inconsistencies and miscommunications between these entities hindered any real progress. A report from Andrea suggests there were unexplained delays in the initial response, evidence that went missing, and a lack of coordinated investigative efforts. These failures have contributed to the case remaining unsolved nearly four decades later.

Rae Elaine’s story remains unresolved. The FBI, along with the Menominee Tribal Police, continue to seek information on her murder, offering a $15,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest. Her family, community, and advocates refuse to let her name fade into obscurity. They're not fighting for her justice alone but to ensure that no other Indigenous family has to endure the same heartache.

For anyone who may have information, the call remains clear: it's never too late to come forward. Rae Elaine Tourtillott can be more than a terrible statistic. By retelling her story, we can make sure she's not forgotten, and hopefully, more information will come to light in the abhorrent murder of a young princess.