Missing person investigation continues

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department issued a media release last week, coinciding with the five-year anniversary of the date Brittany Shank was reported missing.

On Nov. 30, 2018, Shank was last seen in the 33000 block of Fawn River Road.

Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the office continues to follow up on tips and leads while still considering Shank’s disappearance an open investigation.

Det./Sgt. Jason Auton took over the investigation in March 2022 and has dedicated much of his time investigating this case, Bingaman said.

Investigators have continued to search multiple locations in various areas throughout Michigan and Indiana using drones, cadaver dogs and search groups. Detectives continue to conduct interviews, work with forensic artist and polygraph analysis to develop additional leads and information to help solve Shank’s disappearance.

In January, the sheriff’s department partnered with Western Michigan University Cold Case Program. The WMU team spent countless hours organizing the case files, creating an index and combing through all digital evidence, Bingaman said, adding that Shank’s case is the largest the program has fielded.