Lost In The Routine: The Disappearance of Devlin Tait

Case Update Notice

This case file has been updated to correct earlier public reporting after communication with an individual with firsthand knowledge of case-related information. Certain identifying details have been intentionally limited to protect their privacy and safety.

We appreciate them taking the time to help clarify details so accurate information can be shared with one goal in mind — finding Devlin Tait.

A Morning That Didn’t Raise Alarms — Until It Did

On the morning of April 21, 2025, Devlin Tait followed what looked like his normal routine in Lake Odessa, Michigan.

There was nothing dramatic about it. No argument. No signs of distress. No one sounding an alarm right away.

Devlin is believed to have left home around 7:28 a.m. That wasn’t unusual. He was known for walking daily, sometimes long distances, often through town and beyond. Walking was part of his routine.

At 8:21 a.m., Devlin was captured on camera at Carl’s Supermarket in Lake Odessa. That footage is the last 100% confirmed sighting of him.

After that, there is nothing solid. No confirmed camera footage. No verified sightings. No activity on his cards or identification. Just a growing gap where Devlin should have been.

By the end of the day, concern had turned into fear. Devlin didn’t come home. He didn’t check in. He didn’t show up where people expected to see him.

And for a town that knew him well, that silence was loud.

Who Devlin Is — Beyond Early Misreporting

Early descriptions of Devlin painted him as childlike and physically limited. Those descriptions were incomplete and, in key ways, incorrect.

Devlin was legally deemed competent by a judge.

He did not have physical disabilities that prevented him from walking, completing chores, or navigating his daily life. In fact, he regularly took long walks — including walking between Lake Odessa and Hastings, something many people would find exhausting.

People who knew him described Devlin as capable, independent in daily routines, and deeply woven into the fabric of the community.

Devlin also had mild Tourette’s syndrome. Those familiar with him state that it did not significantly complicate his daily life, limit his independence, or interfere with his ability to navigate the community.

At the same time, Devlin could be vulnerable.

Not because he was incapable — but because he trusted easily. He wanted connection. And people in town were known to take advantage of that. Friends would tell him to meet them somewhere, only to never show up. Devlin would still go. Still walk there. Still believe.

That vulnerability matters in understanding what may have happened — without stripping him of agency or dignity.

A Known Face in a Small Town

Devlin wasn’t invisible.

He walked through town daily. He checked in with people he cared about. He visited places routinely — including the police station, where he would talk with the chief. He attended church every week by choice. He was well known at Pennies Pizza, where staff regularly fed him simply because they knew him and cared about him.

Devlin had a habit of forming close emotional bonds with women who gave him attention. If someone treated him kindly, he would quickly see them as family — often referring to them as an “aunt.” He made it a point to check on all of his “aunts” daily.

He was social. Familiar. Recognized.

That’s what makes this case especially unsettling.

For someone so visible, so routine-oriented, and so embedded in the community… no one has a confirmed sighting of Devlin after 8:21 a.m.

Anger Issues, Legal Context, and Reality

Devlin did have documented anger issues.

He was reportedly on probation related to a prior physical assault involving his grandmother. This is not included to assign blame or character judgment — only to provide full, accurate context.

Those close to him described Devlin as “normal” in daily functioning, but emotionally reactive at times. He could become angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed — particularly when routines were disrupted or emotions ran high.

This context matters because it helps explain Devlin’s mental and emotional landscape without exaggeration or erasure.

Medical Risk That Cannot Be Ignored

One of Devlin’s daily medications is Lithium.

Missing doses or abruptly stopping Lithium can cause severe medical consequences, including extreme psychological distress and psychosis. This is a medical risk — not speculation.

Devlin did not have his medication with him when he went missing.

That fact alone elevates the urgency of this case.

The Search — Thorough and Exhaustive

Search efforts in and around Lake Odessa have been extensive.

According to information provided by an individual with firsthand knowledge of search activity:

• Lake Odessa has been searched multiple times
• Searches included boots on the ground, K9 units, and drones
• The local dump has been searched
• No physical trace of Devlin has been found

This matters because it removes some assumptions. Devlin did not simply wander into nearby woods and remain undiscovered. If he were still in Lake Odessa, signs would likely have surfaced by now.

They haven’t.

The Phone, The Silence, and The Gaps

Devlin’s phone is still missing.

At approximately 11:38 p.m., a phone ping associated with Devlin was recorded in the area of a local trailer park. This ping does not confirm Devlin’s location at that time, only that his phone was active or detected in that general area. The phone itself has not been recovered.

It is described as a cheap Android phone, likely a Boost prepaid, in a red phone case. Efforts are ongoing to locate it.

Since Devlin went missing:

• A BOLO has been placed on his ID, Social Security card, and food assistance card
• None have been used
• No financial activity has been recorded

Facebook Activity Clarification

Devlin’s Facebook account raises additional questions, but timing is critical to understand this accurately.

The Facebook posts in question were not made while Devlin was missing.

Those posts were visible on his account months prior to his disappearance, and screenshots of them were taken months back. More recently, it was noted that those older posts are now missing.

It has been confirmed that the family does not have access to Devlin’s social media accounts and is not believed to be responsible for any changes.

A source was able to message Devlin’s Facebook page early in the case. More recently, attempts to message the account result in “Cannot send.”

At this time, it is not known whether this is due to Facebook actions, account restrictions, or something else entirely.

Family Cooperation and Efforts

Contrary to some online speculation, sources confirm that the Tait family has been cooperative.

Family members, including Sabrina, Will, and Tamara, have reportedly offered to take lie detector tests. There is no indication from search-connected sources that the family has obstructed efforts.

There is also a $6,000 reward being offered for information leading to Devlin. Details about who established the reward are unclear, but increasing it could significantly increase the chance that someone comes forward.

The Questions That Still Haunt This Case

After all the searching, the same questions remain:

• Where did Devlin go after leaving Carl’s at 8:21 a.m.?
• Did he start walking toward another town?
• Did someone offer him a ride?
• Did someone see him and not realize he was missing?
• Did he seek out a place or person connected to music — something he loved?
• How did someone so visible vanish without a single confirmed sighting?

Lake Odessa has very limited camera coverage. That gap may be one of the biggest obstacles in this case.