Dawn Marie VanMeter: Marquette Park 1982

 

Dawn Marie VanMeter

   Dawn Marie VanMeter was born February 28th 1962 to Donald and Frances VanMeter. She grew up in Merrillville, Indiana. Dawn graduated in 1980.

                                  Dawn played clarinet. She’s on the far right, second row. 


   She went on to Ball State University in Muncie. In the summer of 1982 she was back in Merrillville for the school break.

   She was last seen with John Lee Shippen at the Lake Station Ramada Inn. Many Ramada Inns had nightclubs with dancing back then. I imagine it was a fun place to go for young people. 


   Dawn Marie Van Meter was murdered on August 25th 1982. She was found in the Marquette Park Lagoon on the shore of Lake Michigan. She was nude and floating face down. She had numerous injuries to her face and neck. The newspapers said she was tested for rape. I wonder if that rape kit is still hanging around in an evidence storage area. 


   Her car was found at the Ramada Inn at 2145 Ripley in Lake Station. 


   In 1983, John Lee Shippen, the man last seen with Dawn VanMeter,  went to jail for the rape of a different woman. He faced a second trial for rape and was convicted there too. 

   Could he be responsible for the rape and murder of Dawn Marie VanMeter? 




Dawn is buried at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville. Rest in Peace Dawn. 



If you have information that can help solve Dawn’s murder please call the Lake Station Police Department at 
(219)660-0000 

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