Robert Loren Bacon, a 52-year-old Michigan father, tragically went missing during a family trip to the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth and was found dead eight days later. Bacon, who had traveled to meet his teenage daughters, was last seen on December 27, 2024. He reportedly left the hotel room, saying he intended to move his car closer to their accommodation. However, surveillance footage revealed he went to the hotel’s fun center instead and never returned.
Authorities found no suspicious activity in his car, which remained parked at the resort, and his phone was turned off. Search efforts focused on the nearby Cass River and surrounding areas using drones, dogs, and divers. On January 4, his body was recovered from the river, with a preliminary cause of death listed as drowning. Police noted thin ice on the water at the time of his disappearance.
Bacon’s ex-wife, Melissa McLenna, shared that he was in good spirits before he vanished, describing him as a nature lover who may have walked near the river. She expressed gratitude to those who aided in the search, saying, “We are so sad. I just want to say thank you to everyone that helped.”
The Frankenmuth Police Department has confirmed that the investigation into Bacon’s death is ongoing.
