A father of two was found dead more than a week after telling his teenage daughters he had to “grab something out of the car” during a family trip to a resort in Michigan — and was never seen again.
Robert Loren Bacon, 52, arrived at the Bavarian Inn Resort in Frankenmuth on Dec. 27 to meet his two daughters, 15 and 13, and his mother for a family vacation, his ex-wife Melissa McLenna told McClatchy News.
Bacon arrived at the hotel at 6:40pm and was seen on CCTV bringing his belongings to his room. He then headed towards the swimming pool, where he was supposed to meet his children, but told them he needed to get something from his car first.
“[He] “He was going to his car to get something and was coming back to the pool area to join his family,” McClena said. “He never returned to his family at the pool.”
After the beloved father failed to return, his family became concerned, and on December 30, they reported him missing. McClena took to social media and asked anyone who saw him to contact investigators.
However, Bacon's body was recovered by dive teams from the Cass River near Heritage Park at about 2 p.m. Saturday, according to the Frankenmuth Police Department.
“The preliminary cause of death appears to be drowning, but the final determination will be made by the Saginaw County Medical Examiner’s Office,” police said.
“The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Bacon’s death is ongoing.”
Although Bacon told his family he was going to his car, surveillance footage from the resort shows the father of two never made it to the car.
“[Investigators] “You have a video of him going to the recreation center after leaving the hotel room, and never getting back to his car,” McLenna told WNEM three days before his body was found.
His ex-wife also said that some exits did not have cameras, and that there was “no video of him exiting the building.”
McClena said Bacon's silver car was still parked in the resort's parking lot on Wednesday, but police found nothing suspicious inside during the investigation.
The department also determined that he had his keys, wallet, and phone in his possession when he disappeared.
However, McClena said his phone had been off since he was last seen.
Following news of her ex-husband's death, McClena made a Facebook post on Sunday mourning Bacon.
“I have no words to describe how we feel. We are so sad. I just want to thank everyone who helped search for Robert,” she wrote.
“Thank you to all who have prayed for us and who continue to pray for us.”
The Bavarian Inn Resort is located in Frankenmuth, about a 90-mile drive northwest of Detroit.
