Crime

No sight of Goings after recent search

ALGER COUNTY -- A recent search for missing Alger County woman Starla Goings has yielded no answers, as her family and community continue their quest for answers more than a year after her disappearance.

Goings, now-66-years-old, has been missing since Aug. 15, 2025, when she was last seen at the Upper Peninsula State Fair in Escanaba. Her 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan was found two days later in the vicinity of 16 Mile Lake and M-94.

Since then, a coordinated police search has been underway, as well as several searches involving volunteers.

The Alger County Sheriff's Office recently asked volunteers to help search for Goings in two new locations on Oct. 24. While the sheriff's office has been heavily involved in Goings' case, Michigan State Police is reportedly taking the lead.

Volunteers and a Search and Rescue (SAR) group canvassed the woods north of Wyman Road and the Tie Lake area in Alger County. Another SAR team searched for any sight of Goings in an area around Tie Lake.

Goings' son, Nick Livermore, posted on Facebook after the search, saying, “I want to take a moment to thank everyone who came out to help search for my mom, Starla. Seeing so many people show up, give their time and put in the effort to help bring her home means more to our family than words can ever express.

“Whether you walked the woods, brought supplies or shared the information to spread the word, please know that every bit of support matters. We are incredibly grateful to have a community that continues to show up for our family and refuses to let my mom’s name and story be forgotten."

Livermore thanked the Alger County Sheriff, Alger County Rescue 21, No One Left Behind K9 Search and Rescue and Great Lakes Search and Rescue K-9 for lending their resources for the most recent search.

“While we wish we had answers, we will never stop searching, and we will never stop fighting for my mom. Every person who shows up gives us another reminder that we are not alone in this fight," Livermore added. "Thank you for standing with us, for caring about my mom, and for continuing to help us bring Starla home. We will keep pushing forward until we have answers and justice."

Goings' daughter, Steffanie Rhen, recently detailed her mother's case in a Facebook video posted Oct. 31.

According to Rhen, in early June 2025, Goings reportedly served her husband with divorce papers. Two months later, Goings and her husband attended the U.P. State Fair in Escanaba before returning to their home on Peninsula Point Road in Au Train Township.

Goings was never seen again.

"My mom was incredibly loved. She was bubbly, full of life. She added a little bit of sparkle to everyone's day just by being herself. And she deserved so much more than what this life gave her, and I carry that with myself every single day," Rhen said.

Rhen continued, "Never in a million years could I have imagined that I would be here 14 months later, sitting here, begging strangers on the internet to help me find my mom."

Rhen requested individuals with a platform -- such as true crime journalists or investigative reporters -- tell Goings' story. She also asked members of the public to share her video in hopes of spreading the word about her mother's case.

The U.S. Department of Justice's National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) recently uploaded new photos of Goings to her missing person case webpage, including a photo of what Goings was last seen wearing before heading to the fair in Escanaba.

Goings can be seen wearing glasses, a neon green shirt with blue jeans and grey/white tennis shoes.

Those with information on Goings' disappearance should contact the Alger County Sheriff's Office by calling 906-387-7030 or the Michigan State Police Negaunee Post at 906-225-7030.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.