NORTH WEBSTER — Laurel Mitchell was a spirited young girl, part of many community organizations even at such a young age. She was just 17 years old when an unknown killer raped and murdered her, dumping her body in the Elkhart River in Noble County.

The body of Laurel Jean Mitchell was found in the Elkhart River in rural Noble County just off of this bridge. (Police file photo) There has been a setback in the unsolved murder case of Laurel Mitchell. This morning, Indiana State Police Detective Kevin Smith said a lead on a youth musical group that performed in …read more.

The small lake community of North Webster had never before – and has not since – seen a crime like the 1975 murder of a local teenager. Even today, with the case still unsolved, the community remembers the case of Laurel Jean Mitchell. Laurel’s father was Richard D. “Dick” Mitchell, a well known public figure …read more.