Overview

Last Seen: June 6, 2024
Location: Racine, Wisconsin — Lake Michigan/5th Street-Pershing Park boat launch area
Age When Missing: 68
Status: Missing
NamUs: MP126331
Racine County Sheriff’s Office Case: 24-33155

Main circumstances: Jeffrey Cluey was reportedly captured on surveillance preparing a green canoe at a Racine boat launch at approximately 7:30 p.m. A carry-on-sized suitcase was reportedly placed into the canoe. His family later learned of a witness who reported seeing him paddle onto Lake Michigan. His vehicle was subsequently found near the boat-launch area, and the canoe normally stored at his residence was missing. Publicly available records continue to list Jeffrey as missing.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Jeffrey N. Cluey Missing from Racine, Wisconsin After Canoe Trip on Lake Michigan

Jeffrey N. Cluey, a 68-year-old Racine, Wisconsin man, disappeared on June 6, 2024, after apparently launching a canoe onto Lake Michigan. More than two years later, publicly available missing-person records continue to list Cluey as missing, with no publicly confirmed resolution to his case.

Cluey was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed approximately 175 pounds when he disappeared. He was described as a white male with blue eyes, blondish or brown hair and a full beard containing brown, gray and blond coloring. His NamUs case number is MP126331, while the Racine County Sheriff’s Office case number is 24-33155.

Jeffrey Cluey’s Last Known Movements

Jeffrey Cluey’s last known contact occurred on June 6, 2024, in Racine, Wisconsin.

According to Wisconsin Missing’s case record, Cluey was last seen at approximately 7:30 p.m. launching a green canoe into Lake Michigan from the 5th Street boat launch. Surveillance footage reportedly captured Cluey with a carry-on-sized suitcase, which he placed inside the canoe before heading onto the water.

TMJ4 later interviewed Cluey’s brother, Tim Cluey, who said a witness reported seeing Jeffrey paddle onto Lake Michigan in a canoe shortly before sunset on June 6.

Family Becomes Concerned When Jeffrey Does Not Return

Jeffrey’s disappearance was particularly unusual because, according to his family, he maintained frequent contact with his elderly parents. Tim Cluey told TMJ4 that Jeffrey visited their parents every day and regularly helped them around their home, allowing them to continue living independently.

After the family could not contact Jeffrey, a report was made to the Racine Police Department.

Six days after Jeffrey was last seen, his family said authorities located his vehicle near the Pershing Park boat launch in Racine. Family members also checked the garage where Jeffrey stored his canoe and discovered that the canoe was missing.

The family subsequently distributed missing-person flyers and posted information online. According to Tim Cluey, those efforts resulted in a witness coming forward who reported seeing Jeffrey paddling onto Lake Michigan.

Jeffrey Was Known to Visit the Lake at Night

Tim Cluey told TMJ4 that he learned after his brother disappeared that Jeffrey sometimes went to the boat launch when he was unable to sleep.

At times, Jeffrey would reportedly watch the waves. When he believed conditions were calm enough, he would take his canoe onto the lake. His brother said he had not previously known about the nighttime canoe trips and would have advised Jeffrey against taking such a risk.

The combination of Jeffrey’s missing canoe, his vehicle being found near the boat launch, the witness account and the later-documented surveillance footage strongly focused attention on Lake Michigan as the location connected to his disappearance. Those circumstances, however, do not establish what ultimately happened to him.

Initial Law Enforcement Response

During TMJ4’s reporting shortly after Jeffrey disappeared, Racine Police Department officials said the circumstances at that point did not meet the department’s qualifications for a missing-person designation. Authorities nevertheless issued an attempt-to-locate notice and a BOLO — “be on the lookout” — covering Racine and Kenosha counties.

The case was subsequently documented through missing-person databases. Current Wisconsin Missing records identify the Racine County Sheriff’s Office as the agency responsible for Jeffrey’s case and list agency case number 24-33155.

NamUs-derived current records identify Jeffrey’s missing-person entry as MP126331 and continue to show his last-seen date as June 6, 2024, in Racine.

Family Searches for Answers

Jeffrey’s family did not rely solely on official efforts. Tim Cluey told TMJ4 that he planned to search for his brother with a friend and asked people throughout the area to watch for anything that could provide information about Jeffrey’s whereabouts.

The disappearance was especially difficult for Jeffrey’s parents. According to Tim, their son had played an important role in their daily lives before suddenly vanishing.

The family’s early public appeal emphasized that they wanted answers regardless of what had happened, while still hoping Jeffrey would be located alive.

Latest Publicly Available Information

A review of publicly accessible records and reporting through September 2026 did not identify a public announcement that Jeffrey N. Cluey has been located.

Current missing-person databases and Wisconsin case resources continue to carry his case. Recent indexed missing-person records still list Jeffrey as missing from Racine since June 6, 2024, under NamUs number MP126331. Wisconsin Missing also continues to identify the Racine County Sheriff’s Office as the case owner under agency case number 24-33155.

No credible public source located during this review reports that Jeffrey’s remains have been recovered, that his canoe has been recovered, or that authorities have classified the case as a homicide. There also does not appear to be a publicly announced suspect or criminal charge connected to his disappearance.

That does not mean investigative activity has stopped. Law-enforcement agencies do not necessarily make searches, tips, investigative leads or other case activity public. It means only that no later substantive investigative development was located in the publicly available sources reviewed.

The Racine County Sheriff’s Office has law-enforcement authority over the waters of Lake Michigan within Racine County, and its current official website lists both its Law Enforcement Center and non-emergency contact information.

Brief Case Summary

Last Seen: June 6, 2024
Location: Racine, Wisconsin — Lake Michigan/5th Street-Pershing Park boat launch area
Age When Missing: 68
Status: Missing
NamUs: MP126331
Racine County Sheriff’s Office Case: 24-33155

Main circumstances: Jeffrey Cluey was reportedly captured on surveillance preparing a green canoe at a Racine boat launch at approximately 7:30 p.m. A carry-on-sized suitcase was reportedly placed into the canoe. His family later learned of a witness who reported seeing him paddle onto Lake Michigan. His vehicle was subsequently found near the boat-launch area, and the canoe normally stored at his residence was missing. Publicly available records continue to list Jeffrey as missing.