The person at the center of this case
David Jonathan Schutz
Missing Person · Open
88 days waiting
Missing Person: David Jonathan Schutz
Justice for David Jonathan Schutz — the trail went cold in 2026, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1Why did David leave the hostel without his wallet, ID, or passport, and what was his intended destination or purpose for the evening?
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location
Lead #2What is the significance of the Grant Park/Michigan/Lower Wacker area where his phone was last pinged, and are there businesses, residences, or transportation hubs in that vicinity?
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timeline
Lead #3The 51-minute gap between the Buckingham Fountain sighting (9:20 pm) and the final phone ping (10:11 pm) covers approximately 0.5 miles—what route did David take and where did he go?
David Jonathan Schutz, a 36-year-old Israeli national, disappeared on April 17, 2026, after leaving the HI Chicago Hostel at 9:14 pm wearing a light blue hoodie and wet suit pants. He was last pinged by his cell phone at 10:11 pm in the Grant Park area near Michigan Avenue and Lower Wacker Drive, having walked east toward Buckingham Fountain. David left behind his passport, wallet, and identification, and had never visited Chicago before this trip, making his sudden disappearance under these circumstances highly unusual and concerning.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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witness
Lead #4Were there any witnesses or security cameras along Ida B Wells Drive or in the Grant Park area that captured David's movements after 9:20 pm?
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clue
Lead #5Has David's cell phone been recovered, and can its location data or communications provide additional leads about his activities or contacts that evening?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP159919. Missing person: David Jonathan Schutz.
Last known contact: 2026-04-17 in Chicago, Cook, IL. Circumstances: David was staying in the HI Chicago Hostel on 24 E Ida B Wells Dr for 3 nights.
At about 9:14 pm on the third night, April 17 2026, he exited the hostel's front door on camera and never returned. He was wearing a light blue hoodie, black wet suit pants, and slider sandals.
He had a cell phone but no wallet, cash or ID. He left a large backpack with clothing, his passport, contact lenses and eye glasses in the hostel.
According to security cameras viewed by police, he walked east on Ida B Wells Drive and was seen in the vicinity of Buckingham Fountain at 9:20 pm. His phone was last pinged at 10:11 pm at 41°53'22.1"N, 87°36'50.8"W (Grant Park/Michigan/Lower Wacker area).
Except for 4 years during undergraduate study at Princeton University, David has lived his whole life in Israel. He had never been in Chicago before April 15, 2026.
Demographics: 36 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 9 in, 180 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Blue.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: David was wearing a light blue hoody, wet suit long pants and slider sandals.. Investigating agency: Chicago Police Department - Area Three | JK223354 | 1989-04-19.
Timeline of Events
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2026-04-15
Arrival in Chicago
David arrived in Chicago for the first time, having lived in Israel his entire life except for undergraduate studies at Princeton University.
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2026-04-17
21:14Departure from Hostel
David exited the HI Chicago Hostel front door on camera wearing a light blue hoodie, black wet suit pants, and slider sandals. He had a cell phone but no wallet, cash, or ID.
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2026-04-17
21:20Sighting at Buckingham Fountain
Security camera footage shows David in the vicinity of Buckingham Fountain, walking east on Ida B Wells Drive.
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2026-04-17
22:11Last Cell Phone Ping
David's cell phone was last pinged at coordinates 41°53'22.1"N, 87°36'50.8"W in the Grant Park/Michigan/Lower Wacker area.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:April 15, 2026
Last Updated:July 14, 2026
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Phone: 3127448261
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Case Information
Incident:April 15, 2026
Last Updated:July 14, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 3127448261
You can remain anonymous