The person at the center of this case
David Jonathan Schutz
Missing Person · Open
178 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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location
Lead #1Why did David walk east toward Buckingham Fountain and the lakefront at 9:14 pm on his third night in an unfamiliar city with no wallet or ID?
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timeline
Lead #2What happened in the 51 minutes between the 9:20 pm Buckingham Fountain sighting and the 10:11 pm phone ping—did he continue walking, meet someone, or change direction?
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evidence
Lead #3Was David's phone turned off, lost, or destroyed after the 10:11 pm ping, or did it simply lose signal in that area?
David Jonathan Schutz, a 36-year-old Israeli visitor, disappeared from Chicago on April 17, 2026, after leaving the HI Chicago Hostel around 9:14 pm wearing a light blue hoodie and wet suit pants. His last phone ping was recorded at 10:11 pm in the Grant Park area near Michigan Avenue and Lower Wacker Drive, and he left behind his passport, wallet, and all identification. The circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear—whether he became disoriented in an unfamiliar city, encountered foul play, or wandered into a dangerous area after dark.
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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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clue
Lead #4Did anyone see a disoriented man in a light blue hoodie and wet suit pants near the lakefront, Lower Wacker Drive, or Michigan Avenue that evening?
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person
Lead #5Did David have any contacts or acquaintances in Chicago, or was he traveling entirely alone?
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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 4 years at Princeton University.
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2026-04-17
21:14Hostel departure
David exited the front door of HI Chicago Hostel on camera wearing a light blue hoodie, black wet suit pants, and slider sandals. He had his cell phone but no wallet, cash, or ID.
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2026-04-17
21:20Buckingham Fountain sighting
Security camera footage shows David walking east on Ida B Wells Drive and seen in the vicinity of Buckingham Fountain.
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2026-04-17
22:11Last 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:September 26, 2026
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Phone: 3127448261
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Case Information
Incident:April 15, 2026
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 3127448261
You can remain anonymous