Starla Goings

MUNISING — This past Saturday, a search was held for Starla Goings, the 65-year-old Munising woman who went missing this past August. It apparently turned up nothing.

The search began at the Au Train Fire Station, and was coordinated by the Alger County Sheriff’s Office alongside Nick Livermore, Goings’ son and Steffanie Goings-Rhen, Goings’ daughter.

While many people showed up to help search, they were unsuccessful in locating Goings.

“It was a great turnout, as far as the volunteers there were over 130 who showed up to help us search for Starla,” said Alger County Sheriff Todd Brock.

Alger County Rescue 21 was also present with over 20 people, alongside 8 DNR officers and several Michigan State Police.

While they did not locate Goings, “there were some items that were found and taken into evidence,” said Brock. Those items were bagged and taken to the crime lab for processing. Alger County and the Michigan State Police are receiving assistance from federal agencies now as well in the search for Goings.

“On the search day, the United States Forest Service has been assisting with water and woods searches,” said Brock, who went on to say that their work has been “instrumental.”

Alger County Undersheriff Steve Blank also reported that the FBI has offered aerial assistance that will be set up at a later date.

Blank went on to say that Alger County Rescue 21 “did a great job organizing the search. I’m proud of them, proud of the team, proud of the community as a whole. Our main priority is to bring Starla home.”

An Escanaba Daily Press article from early May reported that, while the Alger County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police have led the investigation into Goings’ disappearance, numerous other agencies have assisted at various times, including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Just a few days after Goings was reported missing, searches were conducted near the Peninsula Point Road area with assistance from partner agencies, including the Michigan State Police, Marquette County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

In late October 2025, police suggested foul play may be involved in her disappearance.

The Alger County Sheriff’s Office confirmed a search warrant was executed on property located on Peninsula Point Road owned by Goings’ husband. The agency did not specify if anything was found.

Livermore stated his mother filed for a divorce from her husband in May 2025 — three months before she disappeared.

Goings is described as a white female, about 5 feet 4 inches in height and 160 pounds. She has short, white hair and brown eyes. Police are unaware what type of clothing she was wearing.

Police have asked that anyone who may have been in that area of rural Alger County around that time or who may have trail cameras set up in the area contact police if anything occurs to them or a camera reveals an unusual photo or video.

The Alger County Sheriff can be contacted by calling 906-387-7030.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.