Contents
The Disappearance
Theresa Lockhart, a 44-year-old high school Spanish teacher from Portage, Michigan, vanished without a trace on May 18, 2017. Leaving a fitness center she frequented, she never returned home. Concerned colleagues reported her missing when she failed to show up for work for two consecutive days. Her empty vehicle was discovered at a park-and-ride lot about five miles from her residence.
The Husband’s Story
Christopher Lockhart, Theresa’s husband, was the last person to see her alive. He claimed that Theresa had left their home at around 10 p.m. on May 18. Curiously, he hadn’t reported her missing when she didn’t return by the next morning, citing her previous instances of running away due to anxiety. However, many close to Theresa found this explanation hard to believe.
The Search
Despite Christopher’s assertions, a thorough area-wide search was conducted. The Portage Department of Public Safety, along with the Michigan State Police and the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, utilized cadaver dogs and aerial support. Their efforts led them to Theresa’s remains in a shallow grave near a marsh in Allegan Game Park on October 24. Her passing was ruled as a homicide, but due to severe decomposition, medical examiners couldn’t pinpoint a specific cause of death.
The Investigation
Less than a month after Theresa’s disappearance, the Portage Department of Public Safety named Christopher as their primary and only person of interest. The lack of “proof of life,” communication, and his uncooperative behavior refocused the investigation. In a press conference, Senior Deputy Chief John Blue stated that the case elements pointed to foul play. Christopher Lockhart became the central figure in the mystery surrounding Theresa’s death1.
A Love Story Twisted by Rage
Theresa Lockhart’s tragic end is a chilling reminder that love stories can take dark turns. Investigation Discovery’s series “Til Death Do Us Part” chronicled her disappearance and slaying, revealing the twisted path of passion soured by obsession. True love may be written in the stars, but for Theresa Lockhart, it ended in homicide.
