The Disappearance of Max DeVries: A Family's Search for Answers in Aruba

The Disappearance of Max DeVries

• 💔 14-year-old Max DeVries vanished on a family vacation to Aruba in May 2004, with officials declaring him "lost at sea."
• ❓ His family, however, suspects foul play, believing someone they met on vacation may be involved.
• 🏖️ The family's trip was intended as a healing experience after the death of Max's father, George, two years prior.

Suspicious Encounters and Shifting Stories

• 🤝 Max met David Stacy Sr., a 56-year-old American man, and his son at the resort, and the families bonded, even sharing meals and activities.
• 🚤 Max went jet skiing with David Stacy Sr. on May 12th, 2004, a trip that was supposed to last 45 minutes but led to his disappearance.
• 🌊 David Stacy Sr. was found floating 8 miles offshore with two wave runners, but Max was nowhere to be found.
• 🗣️ David Stacy Sr. provided multiple, inconsistent accounts of what happened, including that the wave runners wouldn't start and that Max floated away or swam towards shore.
• 🧐 Yvon, Max's mother, noticed scratches on David Stacy Sr. and found his stories and the circumstances highly suspicious.

Investigation and Lingering Questions

• 🔍 The Dutch police in Aruba declared Max lost at sea after an extensive search, and David Stacy Sr. was not considered a suspect by local authorities.
• 🇺🇸 Yvon sought help from US authorities, leading to an FBI investigation that also stalled due to jurisdictional issues and the need for agents elsewhere.
• 🚨 A background check by Lieutenant Corey Williams revealed David Stacy Sr. had prior arrests for crimes against children in California, casting further suspicion.
• 🕵️ Lieutenant Williams theorized that David Stacy Sr. and his son may have been working together to target and victimize children, including Max.
• ❓ Despite Yvon's suspicions and the discovery of David Stacy Sr.'s past, no arrests have been made, and the exact circumstances of Max's disappearance remain unknown.
• 🗣️ Max's family continues to hope for answers, believing that the two men know what truly happened to their son.