# Bayerl, DonnaMae Bourgeois

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-missing-since-09%2F08%2F" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border-width: 1px; border-style: none;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"></col><col style="width: 50%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td>[![_Dona Mae Bourgeois Bayerl.jpg](https://www.wismissing.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/scaled-1680-/MKIv3tb9Bpt6fzEg-dona-mae-bourgeois-bayerl.jpg)](https://www.wismissing.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/MKIv3tb9Bpt6fzEg-dona-mae-bourgeois-bayerl.jpg)</td><td>Date Missing: May 6, 1979

From: Muskego, Waukesha County

Date of Birth: June 22, 1940  
Age: 38 years old  
Race: White  
Gender: Female  
Height: 5'6"  
Weight: 130-150 lbbs  
Hair Color: Brown  
Eye Color: Brown

25 exclusions

Case Holder: Muskego Police Department

(262) 679-4130

<span class="data-label">Agency Case Number </span>79270

Parents: Ernest Bougeois &amp; Marie Cote

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<table border="1" id="bkmrk-details-of-disappear" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"></col><col style="width: 50%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td>#### <span style="color: rgb(224, 62, 45);">Details of Disappearance</span>

Bayerl was last seen at her home on [W133 S6582 Fennimore Lane in Muskego](https://maps.app.goo.gl/vjTDnPMbzgtB8sm46) on May 6, 1979. According to her husband she left the home after a quarrel and drove off in the family car. The car was returned that night. When the children woke up the next morning, Dona was gone. She was reported as missing by her husband on May 9, 1979. Police believe she did not leave of her own free will. Police found blood in the garage, determined to be Dona Bayerl's. Dona was declared legally dead in 1986.

In June 2019, John Bayerl was found guilty of first degree murder of DonaMae. On August 30, 2019, John Bayerl was sentenced to life in prison for her murder. Her body has not been recovered.

</td><td>#### <span style="color: rgb(224, 62, 45);">More Information</span>

[NaMus](https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/19994?nav)

[Photo age progression](https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/crime/2017/10/24/38-year-cold-case-has-muskego-police-making-another-try-muskego-police-use-fbi-photo-technology-revi/795170001/)

[Charley Project](https://charleyproject.org/case/donamae-bourgeois-bayerl)

[Doe Network](https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2148dfwi.html)

[Podcast](https://www.thevanishedpodcast.com/episodes/2018/5/18/episode-124-dona-mae-bayerl-part-1-lost-in-the-night)

[Websleuths](https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/wi-donamae-bourgeois-bayerl-38-muskego-6-may-1979-arrest-in-2019.343561/)

<div id="bkmrk-houston-police-depar"></div>#### <span style="color: rgb(224, 62, 45);">Legal Issues</span>

<div>[Case against husband](https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2019CF000244&countyNo=67&mode=details)</div><div>[Conviction](https://www.weau.com/content/news/Jury-convicts-man-in-death-of-missing-Wisconsin-wife-511885272.html)</div></td></tr></tbody></table>

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