Cancer-stricken man leaves friend at bar and is never seen again – until Google Maps find nine years (Image: Family handout/ Google Maps)
The baffling of a man who vanished after meeting a friend at a bar was solved almost a decade later by a chilling Google Maps image.
David Lee Niles, who had been battling cancer and depression, almost 20 years ago after leaving his friend at a local pub in Byron Township, Michigan.
Despite only being there for a short time, he abruptly said goodbye to his friend, saying he felt uncomfortable. He got into his car – and it would be nearly a decade before his bereaved family discovered how he
The case remained unsolved until 2011 with police unable to solve the case, when his family, having lost all hope, posted an online obituary that read: “David Lee Niles, age 72, of , passed away and only God knows the time and place.”
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The announcement stated that a brief memorial for David would be held at the Faith Reformed Church, followed by a presentation from the Kent County Veteran’s Honor Guard. His family and friends moved on with their lives until played a crucial role in solving the cold case in November 2015.
The breakthrough came thanks to Brian Houseman, who was decorating a Christmas tree outside the Cook Funeral Home in Byron Centre, less than a mile away from the last place David was seen. Upon reaching the top of the tree, Brian noticed what appeared to be a car submerged in a nearby pond.
Speaking to WOOD-TV, he recalled: “All of a sudden, it’s like, ‘Whoa, there’s a car out there.’ No one could ever see it. It was murky and things moved around.”
Worried, he contacted the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, and investigators used Google Maps where the outline of the car was visible. Astonishingly, the image of the car had been visible on Google Maps’ overhead satellite view for years.
A dive team was dispatched and the car was retrieved from the water. Inside, they found David’s skeleton along with his wallet. His grieving family arrived at the tragic scene – and son-in-law, Scott Hathaway, expressed: “For us today, it’s a closure of a long search. Why God waited nine years, I have no idea, but we’re happy. It’s good to have him home.”
Lt. Ron Gates opened up to ‘As it Happens,’ detailing the scene, “The vehicle had been there for a while. There were no tracks in the grass. It looked like the vehicle had been there longer than one day.”
Talking about the reaction of David’s family upon the discovery, he disclosed: “I think in their minds they realised that he was deceased. My understanding is that they are relieved to have closure and to know that the body has been found.”
Despite these revelations bringing some closure, the mystery persists on how and why David and his car ended up in the pond.