Unanswered Roads: Michael DeFrance’s Fight for Family and Truth
Michael DeFrance grew up on Montana’s Flathead Reservation, where family and tribal traditions shaped his early years. He and Jermain Charlo formed a bond in their teens, welcoming two sons before their relationship fractured. When Jermain vanished on June 16, 2018, Michael faced public suspicion, criminal charges, and a federal conviction that was later vacated.
Today, he focuses on raising his boys under court supervision, while community volunteers continue searching for answers. His story highlights the crisis of missing Indigenous women, the strain of legal battles, and the resilience needed to keep hope alive.
Early Life on the Flathead Reservation
Michael was born in the late 1980s and spent his childhood immersed in the rhythms of reservation life. His family lived in a modest home surrounded by pine forests and rolling meadows.
He learned to fish on the Flathead River and joined elders around campfires, listening to stories of tribal ancestors. Seasonal traditions—harvesting huckleberries, dancing at powwows, and preparing salmon—taught him respect for nature and community.
In high school, Michael balanced sports with part-time work as a seasonal firefighter. He admired the teamwork required to battle wildfires and felt pride in protecting his homeland. He graduated quietly, never seeking the spotlight. Those early experiences fostered a deep sense of loyalty and shaped how he would face later challenges.
Relationship with Jermain Charlo
Michael first met Jermain when she visited his neighborhood in her cousin’s car. She was fourteen; he was sixteen. Their friendship blossomed into romance as they shared walks by the riverbank and late-night talks under starlit skies. They found comfort in one another’s company, even as friends and family worried about their age difference.
By 2011, Jermain and Michael were living together in a camper on his parents’ land. They celebrated the births of their sons—Jacob in 2012 and Thomas in 2014—with quiet pride. Family gatherings grew louder and more joyful as the boys toddled among cousins.
Yet their love was marred by tension. In 2013, Michael made a grave mistake and pleaded guilty to assault after an argument with Jermain. He apologized in court and received probation, swearing to learn and grow from his error.
They nursed wounds and reconciled, but arguments resurfaced in 2016. By early 2017, they went their separate ways. Michael moved back in with his parents, and Jermain sought a fresh start. Their relationship had forged a family, but left lingering questions about trust and safety.
View this post on Instagram
Disappearance and Legal Struggles
On the night of June 15, 2018, Jermain visited a bar in Missoula. Security cameras captured her stay. Just before midnight, she left with Michael. He said he drove her home, but investigators found no record of the address.
Her phone later pinged near his family’s land. In interviews, Michael maintained he dropped her at a friend’s trailer and threw the phone into a river when its battery died. Mounting doubt turned public sympathy into suspicion.
Volunteers combed the forest with cadaver dogs. Tribal leaders held candlelight vigils, demanding answers for one of many missing Native women. The case joined a larger movement: families across North America were raising their voices about missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Two years later, federal agents executed a search warrant on Michael’s property and discovered firearms. Prosecutors argued that his probation terms from 2013 forbade gun ownership. In 2023, a jury convicted him; he faced up to two years in prison. In December 2024, however, an appeals court vacated the verdict and ordered a new sentencing hearing.
Through it all, Michael remained cooperative but guarded. He never faced charges directly linked to Jermain’s disappearance. Yet the weight of the investigation and legal process pressed on him day and night.
New Chapter: Family and Future
Today, Michael lives quietly on the reservation with Jacob and Thomas. He holds a steady job at a local lumberyard and attends weekly check-ins with his probation officers. His mornings begin with breakfast crafts—pancakes in animal shapes—and school drop-offs. Afternoons find him coaching his younger son’s Little League team. “I want my boys to have a father who shows up,” he says softly.
Neighbors describe him as respectful and hardworking. Tribal elders invited him to speak at a community meeting on the issue of missing women, giving him a chance to share his perspective and urge continued search efforts. He calls it “a step toward healing.” Meanwhile, volunteers still scan nearby hills for clues.
Michael hopes for closure but knows the road is long. He strings paper cranes around the reservation offices—a symbol of hope—and prays each night for Jermain’s safe return. His family leans on faith and tradition to sustain them. “Our heritage teaches us perseverance,” he explains. “We keep moving forward together.”
Final Words
Michael DeFrance’s life reflects the complexities of love, loss, and justice on the Flathead Reservation. From a teenage romance to fatherhood, from public scrutiny to legal battles, his journey underscores the crisis faced by missing Indigenous women and the resilience of those left behind. As he raises his sons and awaits justice, Michael carries the weight of unanswered questions—but also the hope that one day, truth and healing will bring light to this long-standing mystery.
Table of Contents