Independent Detective Case File
Jason Michael Bell
MissingMarion, Shawano, Wisconsin, USA
Overview
Last seen: October 8, 2024, approximately 6:00–6:30 p.m.
Last-seen location: His residence on Stony Hill Road in the Marion area of Shawano County, Wisconsin.
Last known phone activity: October 10, 2024, at a location away from his residence.
Reported missing: October 22, 2024, by family members.
Age when missing: 48.
Physical description: Approximately 5’9″, 215 pounds, hazel eyes, balding with short gray/partially gray hair, beard and mustache.
Key circumstances: Investigators did not know of a vehicle or obvious means of transportation available to Bell. He had connections to Fox Lake, Wisconsin, and Henderson, Nevada. Ground searches, K9 searches, interviews and follow-up investigations into multiple leads have been conducted.
Current status: Missing. The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department confirmed in April 2026 that the investigation remained active, but Detective Brad Schultz said there were no new leads available to share publicly.
NamUs: MP133294.
Detailed Case Breakdown
Jason Michael Bell Missing Person Case: What Happened to the Wisconsin Man Who Vanished in October 2024?
Jason Michael Bell disappeared from the Marion area of Shawano County, Wisconsin, in October 2024. Bell, who was 48 years old when he vanished, was last seen at his residence on Stony Hill Road on October 8, 2024. His disappearance has remained under investigation by the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, with authorities continuing to ask the public for information.
Nearly two years after Bell disappeared, investigators publicly confirmed in April 2026 that his case remained active. No publicly confirmed explanation for his disappearance has been announced.
Jason Bell Was Last Seen at His Wisconsin Home
Jason Michael Bell was last seen at his home on Stony Hill Road in the Marion area on October 8, 2024. More detailed missing-person information places the last sighting between approximately 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. that evening. Bell was 48 years old at the time.
Bell was described as a white male approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 215 pounds. He had hazel eyes and was balding, with short gray or partially gray hair along the sides and back of his head. He also had a beard and mustache that were at least partially gray. Published missing-person information additionally documents multiple tattoos.
Bell had worked as a truck driver in the logging industry before his disappearance.
His Phone Pinged Two Days After He Was Last Seen
One of the most significant publicly disclosed pieces of evidence in the case involves Bell’s cellphone.
Although Bell was last seen on October 8, investigators said his phone produced its last known ping on October 10, 2024. Authorities said that ping did not originate from his residence. Public reports have not disclosed the exact location of the October 10 phone activity.
That distinction leaves two important dates in Bell’s case: October 8 is the date he was last known to have been seen, while October 10 is the date of the last publicly reported activity associated with his cellphone.
Family Reported Jason Bell Missing on October 22
Bell’s family reported him missing on the evening of October 22, 2024, approximately two weeks after he was last seen.
Investigators initially said they did not believe Bell had a vehicle or another obvious means of transportation. Authorities nevertheless noted that Bell had friends and relatives in Wisconsin’s Fox Lake area as well as connections to Henderson, Nevada, near Las Vegas.
Those connections have remained part of the information circulated publicly about his disappearance, but authorities have not publicly confirmed that Bell traveled to either location after leaving his home.
Searches, K9 Teams and Interviews
The Shawano County Sheriff’s Office began using law-enforcement resources to search for Bell after he was reported missing. By October 30, 2024, officials said numerous searches had already been conducted but investigators had been unable to develop information establishing where Bell had gone.
A more detailed update released in May 2025 revealed additional information about the investigation. Authorities said ground searches had been conducted using K9 teams. Investigators had also performed numerous interviews and followed up on multiple leads.
Despite those efforts, Bell remained missing.
The Investigation Continued Through 2025
On May 28, 2025, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office again appealed for information about Bell’s whereabouts. Investigators reiterated that they were unaware of a vehicle he might have been using when he disappeared.
The Sheriff’s Office also released an updated photograph of Bell to assist the public in recognizing him.
Later reporting continued to list Bell among Wisconsin’s unresolved missing-person cases. His disappearance was still publicly identified as unresolved in a November 2025 compilation of missing people from north-central Wisconsin.
Latest Investigation Update: Case Remains Active in 2026
The latest substantive law-enforcement update located during research was published April 8, 2026.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department Detective Brad Schultz confirmed that the Jason Bell investigation was still active. Schultz said investigators did not have new leads they could share publicly and continued to welcome information from anyone who might help locate Bell and provide answers to his family.
As of that update, authorities had not publicly announced that Bell had been located, identified a suspect, made an arrest, or disclosed evidence establishing what happened to him.
There is likewise no reliable public information located in this research establishing that Bell was the victim of a homicide. His case should therefore be described as an active missing-person case unless law enforcement announces otherwise.
Jason Michael Bell Missing Person Case: What Remains Unknown
The central unanswered question is what happened between Bell’s last confirmed sighting at his Stony Hill Road residence on October 8 and the final reported cellphone ping away from the residence on October 10.
Investigators have not publicly disclosed where that phone ping occurred, how Bell may have left the area, or whether another person was involved in his disappearance.
The fact that authorities did not know of a vehicle Bell could have been driving has also remained a notable element of the investigation. His connections to Fox Lake, Wisconsin, and Henderson, Nevada, have been repeatedly publicized, but no confirmed sighting in either location has been announced.
Very Brief Case Summary
Last seen: October 8, 2024, approximately 6:00–6:30 p.m.
Last-seen location: His residence on Stony Hill Road in the Marion area of Shawano County, Wisconsin.
Last known phone activity: October 10, 2024, at a location away from his residence.
Reported missing: October 22, 2024, by family members.
Age when missing: 48.
Physical description: Approximately 5’9″, 215 pounds, hazel eyes, balding with short gray/partially gray hair, beard and mustache.
Key circumstances: Investigators did not know of a vehicle or obvious means of transportation available to Bell. He had connections to Fox Lake, Wisconsin, and Henderson, Nevada. Ground searches, K9 searches, interviews and follow-up investigations into multiple leads have been conducted.
Current status: Missing. The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department confirmed in April 2026 that the investigation remained active, but Detective Brad Schultz said there were no new leads available to share publicly.
NamUs: MP133294.
Social Media, News and Case Links:
NamUs: Jason’s Page
Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy: Jason Michael Bell
Missing People in America: Jason Bell – Missing Person Profile
Websleuths: Jason M. Bell, 48, Shawano County – Missing Since October 8, 2024
WSAW 7 News: Shawano Co. continues search for man reported missing on Oct. 22
WSAW 7 News: Investigators continue search for missing Shawano County man
WSAU News/Talk 550 AM & 99.9 FM: Missing Man Reported in Shawano County
Wausau Pilot & Review: Search underway for missing Marion man
Wausau Pilot & Review: Without a trace: The missing people of north central Wisconsin
NEW Media Inc.: Detectives having no luck in finding missing mange
Contact Information:
| Contact / Record | Information |
|---|---|
| Investigating Agency | Shawano County Sheriff’s Department |
| Shawano County Sheriff’s Department — Non-Emergency / Tips | 715-526-3111 (NEW Media Inc.) |
| Shawano County Sheriff’s Office — number given in May 2025 case update | 715-526-7905; information concerning Bell was to be directed to Detective Brad Schultz. (https://www.wsaw.com) |
| Lead investigator identified in latest update | Detective Brad Schultz (NEW Media Inc.) |
| NamUs Number | MP133294 (wimissing) |
| Missing People in America Case Number | 3748 (Missing People in America) |
Event Timeline Graph
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 8, 2024 | Jason Michael Bell is last seen at his residence on Stony Hill Road in the Marion area of Shawano County, Wisconsin, reportedly between approximately 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. (wimissing) |
| October 10, 2024 | Bell’s cellphone produces its last reported ping. Investigators say the phone was away from his residence but do not publicly disclose the location. (https://www.wsaw.com) |
| October 22, 2024 | Bell’s family reports him missing to authorities. (https://www.wsaw.com) |
| October 30, 2024 | The Shawano County Sheriff’s Office publicly appeals for assistance. Authorities report that extensive efforts/searches have not produced a lead establishing Bell’s whereabouts. (WSAU) |
| November 4, 2024 | Wausau Pilot & Review reports on the continuing search and the October 10 cellphone ping. (Wausau Pilot & Review) |
| March 2025 | Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy publishes a detailed case profile identifying Bell’s NamUs number as MP133294. (wimissing) |
| May 28, 2025 | Investigators disclose that ground searches involving K9s have been conducted and that numerous interviews and multiple leads have been pursued. An updated photograph of Bell is released. (https://www.wsaw.com) |
| November 2025 | Bell remains listed among unresolved missing-person cases in north-central Wisconsin. (Wausau Pilot & Review) |
| April 8, 2026 | Detective Brad Schultz confirms the case is still active but says there are no new leads to publicly share. Authorities again request tips from the public. (NEW Media Inc.) |
Submit a Tip & Stay Updated
Share Information
Every tip matters. Information, memories, photographs, timelines, or small details may help bring attention back to a case.
Contact Law Enforcement First
If your information could assist an active investigation, please contact the investigating agency directly first. Law enforcement can immediately evaluate credible information and take action when needed.
Information submitted through this website may be reviewed, documented, or shared publicly, but Independent Detective cannot investigate or respond the way authorities can.
What You Can Share
You may share information, memories, photographs, links, observations, corrections, or details you believe may be connected to a case.
Even something that seems insignificant could help move an investigation forward.
Respectful Discussion
Thoughts and theories are welcome, but please remain respectful.
Avoid identifying, accusing, or targeting individuals without supporting evidence.
Stay Connected
Subscribe free to receive notifications when new cases are added to the archive, important case developments occur, or new website features become available.
We respect your inbox and only send occasional updates that we believe are important to the community. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Map Location
Marion, Wisconsin
On October 8, 2024
Location disclaimer: This map may identify only the general city or surrounding area. It should not be interpreted as the exact location where the homicide occurred, where a person went missing, or where any other case event took place unless an exact location has been independently confirmed and entered.
Case Correction Report
See something wrong? Let us know.
This form is for correcting information displayed on Independent Detective. If you have new evidence or information about the investigation itself, please use Submit Evidence instead.
Leave a Reply