Retired 68-year-old Colleen Monfore from Holland, Michigan, a mother of two, disappeared on September 26, 2024, while on a diving trip near Pulau Reong Island, Indonesia. Monfore was swept away by strong currents while exploring the waters with friends. Despite her guide’s efforts, she was lost to the ocean.
An eight-day search for Monfore yielded no results. On October 3, a fisherman in Timor-Leste, around 70 miles from where Monfore was last seen, caught a shark suspected of having ingested foreign objects. Upon cutting open the shark, the fisherman found human remains, pieces of a black wetsuit, and a swimsuit. The fisherman reported his discovery, saying, “The shark was caught but it was not in normal health. I thought it had swallowed plastic or a fishing net.”
According to Rick Sass, a close family friend, authorities were able to identify the remains as Monfore through her fingerprints.
Rick’s wife, Kim Sass, mentioned in a Facebook post that while there was a downward current at the turnaround site, it was manageable. Having completed over a thousand dives with Monfore, she expressed her belief that neither a shark nor the underwater environment was responsible for her friend’s death.
Rick Sass remarked that the Monfores had joined them on numerous diving trips over the past 30 years, including trips to Bali, the Philippines, and Bikini Atoll, suggesting that Monfore was a seasoned diver. He shared that her husband, Mike, suspects she may have had a medical incident while in the water.
The Sasses, who have jointly operated a dive shop for over 40 years, analyzed dive photos, discussed the incident with Mike Monfore, and studied his dive computer data. They believe that Monfore likely got separated from the group when they decided to turn back due to rough waters, and that she didn’t die from a shark attack. Rick shared that she was around 24 feet underwater with about half a tank of air left when she vanished.
Rick also shared that Mike is having a hard time dealing with his wife’s death and the process of repatriating her remains. His sleep has been interrupted by the need to manage calls with Indonesia, which is 12 hours ahead. In addition to the overnight calls, he has been communicating with friends during the day, adding to his sleep deprivation.
Indonesian authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway.