MUNISING — The search for missing Alger County woman Starla Perry-Goings remains in progress, with today marking 55 days since she was last seen on Aug. 15.

The 65-year-old was reported missing at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 by her adult children, who had requested that the Alger County Sheriff’s Office conduct a welfare check on her. Family members had last spoken with her that Friday.

She was last seen as she was leaving their home around midnight on Aug. 15. Goings’ vehicle had been found by deputies around dusk on Aug. 17, in a roadside lot on Peninsula Point Road in Munising Township, a short distance from her residence on Sixteen Mile Lake Road. Additional search efforts were conducted on Aug. 18 near Peninsula Point Road with the assistance of partner agencies, including personnel from the Michigan State Police, the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Goings was not located during those efforts.

Alger County Sheriff Todd Brock explains that the department, alongside assisting agencies, are working search areas daily. He said that they have reached out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for assistance regarding the case as well.

“We’re still working (at) it very persistently along with the State Police. We’ve reached out to the FBI to do some work for us, which they’ve gladly said they would help us on, and at this point we’re waiting for forensics to come back. We’re waiting (on) results from some forensics,” said Brock. “Our office is working closely with a retired state police detective, Michael Neiger. He’s doing some work for the family and doing some investigation on this case also.”

Brock also says that the case is still being treated as a missing person’s case, and no person of interest has been determined.

“We have not determined a person of interest at this time. We’re still treating it as a missing person’s case,” Brock said. “We’re waiting on forensics and hopefully, as we get the results back on forensics, it’ll lead us in a direction. We’re hopeful.”

Brock also asks that if members of the public are interested in conducting their own searches or bringing out search parties, to please notify the Alger County Sheriff’s Office that they are doing so.

“People have asked in the public about doing their own searches and their own search parties. At this point in time, if people want to search (or) if the public does want to reach out like that, we’re not discouraging anybody to not do that. We’re just asking if they do that, to please notify the Sheriff’s Office and let us know ‘We’re searching this area,’ or whatever. We’re still reaching out for public help on this…” explained Brock. “Anybody in the public, we’re asking you may have heard, seen about this case that may be helpful to us, please reach out to the Alger County Sheriff’s Office or the Michigan State Police. (It) would be greatly appreciated.”

The investigation remains ongoing. The Mining Journal will continue to provide updates on this story as they are made available.

Starla Perry-Goings is a white female, 5’4″, approximately 160 pounds with white hair and brown eyes. A description of her clothing during the time she went missing is unknown.

If you have information about Starla’s case or her whereabouts, contact the Alger County Sheriff’s Office at 906-387-7030, the MSP Negaunee Regional Communications Center at 866-411-0018 or the MSP Negaunee Post at 906-475-9922.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.