Luann Beckman was not only a loving mother and beloved friend, she was so much more. Luann is remembered by her three children as loving the outdoors, specifically going on a camping trips, gardening, and taking her children out on their boat on the Wolf River to go fishing. Nothing was more important to Luann than seeing her children happy, according to a family member on the Justice for Luann Beckman Facebook page. Another family member remembers that Luann would often play the role of Santa on Christmas, and found great joy in handing out presents one at a time for her children to open. In the months prior to her death, Luann, who had previously been living in Florida, had moved back to Phelps, WI, and was living with her mother. 

May 15, 2016, was a chilly and partially rainy day in Phelps, Wisconsin when Luann was last seen. She was last seen riding her bicycle in Phelps at approximately 4:30 pm. Unfortunately, not much is known about Luann’s movements after this point, though some reports state that there was a call placed by Luann’s phone to 911 sometime after she was last seen. There is no information available regarding this call, though it has been reported that the call dropped shortly after the call was initially made.

The following day, a woman walking on a nearby snowmobiling trail with her grandfather finds papers scattered on the ground along with empty alcohol bottles. Shortly after, they found Luann’s remains close by. According to the 911 call, Luann, who was identified by the papers they had found, was lying shirtless along the trail, with her bicycle nearby. 

Seven months later, in December of 2016, the release of Luann’s autopsy revealed that she had been strangled and smothered and that there had not been any signs of sexual assault. No update on Luann’s case is released until the following May. Around the one-year anniversary of when Luann was killed, officials announced that they were working with the Department of Justice for assistance with a phone call and text message analysis. 

Where the case stands today. Today, it’s been nearly 6 years since Luann was senselessly killed in May of 2016. Her case remains unsolved, and her children, and other family members, continue waiting for answers. If you have any information regarding the individual responsible for Luann’s death, please contact the Vilas County Sheriff’s Department at (715) 479-4441.