In August of 1972, a seemingly routine missing person’s report in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, quickly escalated into a chilling mystery that would span decades. Keith Schuller reported his wife, Lynn Schuller, missing, but from the outset, law enforcement suspected foul play. Over forty years later, the case remains unsolved, with authorities still convinced that Keith Schuller was responsible for his wife’s disappearance, despite the enduring enigma surrounding her fate.
The Disappearance
The story of Lynn Schuller began in a Minneapolis suburb, where she grew up. Lynn Tickner, as she was known then, met Keith Schuller during a family vacation in northern Minnesota. Despite the age difference—Lynn was barely a teenager while Keith was six years her senior—their long-distance relationship flourished and culminated in marriage on September 18, 1965. The couple settled in Cedar Rapids, where Lynn gave birth to their only child in 1969. By all outward appearances, they were a happy family. However, in 1971, Keith unexpectedly announced he wanted a divorce. Lynn, wanting to preserve her family, refused.
The Investigation
In a March 19, 1992 interview with the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Lynn’s mother, Eloise Tickner, revealed that her daughter had been hopeful they could work things out for their child’s sake. However, Keith persisted in his divorce efforts, and in 1972, Lynn expressed her fears in a letter to her mother, stating Keith had threatened to kill her. Despite these alarm bells, Eloise dismissed the letter, believing such a tragedy couldn’t happen in her family.
When Keith reported Lynn missing on August 6, 1972, he claimed she had vanished along with her bicycle while he and their son were out. Strangely, when they returned home later, the bicycle had reappeared, but Lynn was nowhere to be found. Her personal belongings, including her purse, remained untouched.
Search efforts began immediately, but when Keith refused to assist officers in searching nearby woods, suspicion grew. He was arrested but later released due to lack of evidence. Despite extensive searches, including infrared aerial photography, no trace of Lynn was found. Her parents even offered a reward, which unfortunately yielded no leads.
The Case Today
With no concrete evidence, the case against Keith Schuller was never strong enough to bring formal charges. Nonetheless, suspicions persisted. Keith continued to pursue a divorce, filing multiple times before finally managing to secure one in Dubuque County District Court in 1976, away from the scrutiny of his in-laws. In 1978, he had Lynn declared legally dead, and their son became the sole beneficiary of her life insurance, with Keith as conservator.
After these events, Keith relocated to Fruitland, Idaho, bringing his pet alligator, Pogo, with him. He served the community as a middle school teacher and later as the Payette County coroner, all the while maintaining his innocence regarding Lynn’s disappearance. Yet, rumors of his involvement never completely dissipated. In various interviews and online discussions, former students recalled his unsettling fascination with death and deadly phenomena.
Lynn Schuller’s disappearance remains a haunting unsolved case. Described as a devout Christian Scientist and a devoted mother, Lynn’s sudden and mysterious vanishing disrupted many lives. Her family, friends, and law enforcement continue to grapple with the unresolved questions and the eerie circumstances surrounding August 6, 1972. Despite the passage of time, the belief that Keith Schuller holds the key to this enduring mystery persists. The truth of what happened to Lynn Schuller remains buried, awaiting a breakthrough that might finally provide closure.
