The Case

The information summarized below is the only publicly accessible information on the case, sourced from police reports, compiled news stories, court records, related criminal background checks and other documents. This summary highlights some of the key findings from the compiled case documents. You can dig deeper by exploring all source materials in the Archive. For interpretations and commentary on this information, visit the Blog.

The Disappearance and Death of Karl Heikell

A view of Second Street in Centennial Heights, looking north, near the childhood home of Karl Heikell.

The Location of Karl’s Remains

The precise location of Karl’s remains cannot be determined from the police reports and newspaper clippings alone. However, an approximate area can be found using information provided in those documents.

On October 2, 1982, Roger Perreault, a local bird hunter advised police that at approximately 2PM, while in a wooded area near Centennial Heights, he came across several articles of torn clothing. Roger notified police of his findings and alongside his father, Clifford Perreault, took police to the scene.

Upon arrival officers observed one pair of blue jeans, remnants of a blue and green plaid shirt, white socks with red trim, white underwear, and a blue nylon jacket. Continued searching on the same day turned up tufts of human hair, several fingernails and a section of bone.

When this property is logged as evidence in the police report, officers note that it was found in Section 12 of Calumet Township. A 1981 Houghton County Plat Book also includes Section 12 of Calumet Township, and area that covers land north and north east of Centennial Heights. Section 12 of Calumet Township appears in an identical location in all modern plat books.

On October 5, 1982, officers returned to the location and found what appeared to be a femur bone in a northeast direction approximately 75 feet from the spot where the clothing was found. No further human remains linked to Karl have ever been found.

An October 4, 1982 Daily Mining Gazette article reads, "State police said the remains and "badly torn" clothing were found by a hunter at about 2PM Saturday [October 2] in a heavily wooded area about a half-mile northeast of Centennial Heights." The article goes on to state, " [Detective] Aird said the area where the remains were found is on the edge of a swamp and covered with a thick growth of trees and brush. He said there are no roads nearby."

In a September 19, 1984 report, while making a case for a suspect in Karl's death, police describe a route from Pine Street in Calumet to the location of Karl’s remains. Police note that by starting in the area of the Mr. Radiator transmission shop, and driving north of 3rd street, then west on to Centennial Heights Road, and then north into Centennial Heights, a subject would travel around 1.9 miles to the location where it is suspected Karl's body was removed from a vehicle and dragged in a northeast direction into the heavily wooded area where he was found. Police also note that this location is one half mile from Karl's home in a northeast direction.

Also in September of 1984, during a police interview with Centennial Heights local John Hella, John tells police that one would have to know the area in which Karl’s remains were discovered very well to even get to that location. He noted that it would be difficult to become lost in the area, because passing vehicles on the highway could be heard from anywhere behind [or north of] Centennial Heights.

Physical Evidence

The following information is a summary of physical evidence obtained by police since the time of Karl's disappearance. In 1983, all physical evidence was either released to the Heikell family, released to the Peterson Funeral Home, or incinerated. The release and destruction of evidence occurred shortly after the Heikell family petitioned the Houghton County Probate Court to determine a cause of death, location of death, and time of death in order to provide some semblance of closure. The finding by the probate court on October 11, 1983 would lead to the issuance of a death certificate and the eventual release or destruction of all evidence.

On December 2, 1981, police log a black Casio watch into evidence. The watch was found by Gary Olson, a Centennial Heights local, on November 30, 1981, while he was walking along County Road C-11A. Olson noticed a watch face missing a wristband, laying in the road, on top of snow, and on the left side of the roadway. Karl's father, Lawrence Heikell, confirmed the watch belonged to Karl. Police also note that the watch was found just east of the Langdon property in Centennial Heights, about 25 yards east of where the creek crosses the road if traveling from US-41.

A view of Amygdaloid Road (referred to as Co. Rd. C-11A in the original police reports), looking east, in the approximate location of the discovery of Karl’s watch face.

After Roger Perreault’s initial discovery, police log those remains on October 2, 1982. This includes one plastic bag containing blue jeans, pieces of a blue-green plaid shirt, white socks with red trim, white undershorts, and a size medium, blue nylon jacket. In a separate bag, police log fingernails, tufts of human hair and a section of bone. A final evidence bag is logged containing a baseball cap and hair taken from a hockey helmet, obtained from the Heikell residence.

A few days later, on October 5, 1982, police discover and log additional remains after a return visit to the site. This includes one plastic bag containing a partial human femur and one X-ray negative of said bone.

On November 9, 1983, Karl's remains were released to the Peterson Funeral Home. On December 20, 1983, Karl's clothes, tufts of hair from his remains, hair samples from his hockey helmet, and the X-ray negative of a human bone were incinerated. On March 14, 1984, the watch previously logged as evidence was released to the Heikell family.

Persons of Note

Alan Bruce Palovaara - Born March 20, 1944.

Alan Palovaara is the only person that police refer to as a possible suspect in the death of Karl Heikell. He grew up on 3rd street in the Centennial Heights area and lived at various locations therein as an adult.

Police first began exploring Alan as a possible suspect after a Copper Country Mental Health (CCMH) social worker contacted police in August of 1984. The social worker reported that Alan contacted CCMH for support with a personal problem. In his initial phone call with CCMH, Alan revealed that he had sexually abused his sons from the time they were approximately 5 or 6 years old until they were 10 or 11, from around 1972 - 1977. This social worker also shared with police that Alan’s ex-wife, Jane Palovaara, told him there was some chance that he may have been involved in the death of Karl Heikell.

Alan married his ex-wife, Jane Palovaara on January 1, 1969. They separated in July of 1976 and divorced on January 30, 1977. During their marriage, the two lived on Waterworks street in Calumet, one block north of Pine Street. Jane states to police that the two divorced because they were not able to communicate effectively.

Around the time that their divorce was finalized, Alan began dating Judy Aho, previously one of Jane’s best friends. Alan and Judy lived together on Union Street in Rambaultown until the relationship ended in 1983.

Alan worked steadily for Paul Heikell Sr., Karl's uncle, and various other owners at the Mr. Radiator transmission shop located at the corner of Pine and 5th streets in Calumet in 1984. Alan was employed here at the time of Heikell's disappearance, although the shop was at that time located two blocks over, at the corner of 3rd and Pine streets.

Jane tells police that Alan knew Karl, and that she is certain he knew the entire Heikell family. Jane and John Hella (who also worked with Alan) tell police that Alan had very few friends, was a shy person that kept his emotions inside, and that his only close friend was probably Paul Heikell, Sr.

Jane, John, and Paul all tell police that Alan had a bad drinking problem. His favorite bars were Perko's, Sharon's, and the U.P. Pub. In his interview with police, John mentions that when Alan drinks, he can become cocky, mouthy and obnoxious. While drinking, he says Alan seems to have “a complete personality change”.

Jane tells police that Alan knows the area behind Centennial Heights "Like the back of his hand", and that he had hunted extensively in the area around and behind Centennial Heights.

Police reports note that Alan began abusing his sons 4 years after marrying Jane, and that Karl disappeared approximately 4 years after Alan began dating Judy Aho.

John tells police that on October 31, 1981, he and Alan emptied materials from John’s truck into a garage located at the corner of 3rd and Pine streets around 6PM. John and Alan both left the garage separately after unloading. Immediately afterwards, John visited Harter's Party Store, where he saw and spoke to Karl. Police believe this is the most credible sighting of Karl on the evening of his disappearance. John recalled that the materials they were unloading were purchased at a dealership auction in L’Anse, and police were able to confirm that such an auction did take place on October 31, 1981. They also note the significance that John can place Karl and Alan within minutes of each other at approximately 6PM on October 31, 1981.

John also tells police that he grew up in the Heights area and used to play with Alan when they were children. He also tells police that Alan sometimes browsed books at Harter's.

Police note that Alan’s favorite drinking spot, Perko's Bar, was located two buildings away from Harter's, where John spoke with Karl on Halloween.

Judy, Alan’s ex-girlfriend, described an incident to police in which Alan took her behind the Centennial Heights area to pick apples, and told her that they were near the area where Heikell's body had been found. However, to her knowledge, Alan had never joined any searches for the boy.

In a November 10, 1984 police interview, Alan advised that he did in fact know Karl and had spoken to him on several occasions. He claims he never hung out with Karl, never took him anywhere in a vehicle, and never supplied Karl with alcohol or drugs. He advised that it was his own feeling that Karl had disappeared as a result of foul play.

Also during the November 10, 1984 interview, Alan admitted to sexually abusing and raping his two boys. He claims that his last contact with the boys was when the divorce was finalized, and since that time, says there have been no more "incidents".

During the same November 10, 1984 interview, Alan stated that he had nothing to do with Karl's death, and police note that he was able to discuss the matter without being overly nervous. Alan agreed to and was administered a polygraph test. While the results are omitted from the report, a retired Calumet Post Michigan State Police Detective and former lead on the Heikell case reviewed the original and unredacted reports in 2022, and confirmed for me that Alan passed the exam. Alan is not mentioned again in the 1981 - 1985 police reports, and the case goes inactive shortly thereafter.

William John Langdon - Born April 15, 1965, died June 29, 1982.

William "Bill" Langdon is referenced several times in the 1981 - 1985 Heikell police reports, and is referred to as Bill Langdon in those documents. Police never indicate that he is a suspect in Karl’s death. However, in a 1984 police interview, when John Hella is asked what he believes may have happened to Karl, he wonders aloud if there’s some connection to the Langdon boy’s suicide.

Bill was 16 years old when first interviewed by police on November 1, 1981. He told police that he saw Karl at about 1:30PM on Halloween, when he told Karl he could not come with him on the trap line without boots. He says Karl mentioned going to Lake Linden to trick or treat. Police reports do not detail whose trap line Bill references, or where it is located.

On November 1, 1981, Gary Olsen tells police that he knows Karl, and saw him walking towards the Langdon home in Centennial Heights on Halloween, between 4 and 4:30PM. Karl's father also indicates that the boy left home around 4PM on Halloween.

On November 17, 1981, police receive information that a Langdon boy purchased eight sandwiches to go from the high school cafeteria in Calumet, and after paying for them, left without taking them. This person notified police because they thought it was possible that a Langdon boy intended to bring the sandwiches to Karl, who was rumored to be hiding in the woods.

On or around November 27, 1981, but before November 30, police interview Bill at the Calumet High School. He denied having any knowledge of where Karl is and maintained that he has not seen him since October 31, 1981. He states that contrary to rumors in the Calumet area, he has not taken food to Karl in a shelter. Bill states further that he did buy the sandwiches, but they were for Eric Blau, and purchased with Eric's money, and Bill left them on the table because Eric wouldn't come and pick them up.

On November 30, 1981, a watch confirmed to be Karl's was found just east of the Langdon property, about 25 yards east of where the creek crosses the road if traveling from US-41 toward Centennial Heights.

On December 4, 1981, Bill’s father, William James Langdon, signs a release form to allow Bill and his brother, Jerry Langdon, to be polygraphed. The test is administered on the same day, but police reports are not clear as to who exactly was polygraphed. While prior reports indicate that the police want to polygraph Bill and Jerry, the December 4 report states, "At the conclusion, Sgt. Peterson advised that WM. Langdon passed the test and in his opinion, has no further knowledge of the Heikell boy's disappearance.". “Wm” is a historical abbreviation often used for William.

The June 29, 1982 issue of the Daily Mining Gazette includes an obituary for William (Bill) Langdon, confirming he died on June 28, 1982 at age 17. Bill died by suicide on this date.

Michigan State Police reports on the suicide of William Langdon indicate that after his parents found stolen property in the home, they told him to turn himself into police. After gathering the stolen goods, he told his father he needed to go upstairs and retrieve one more item from his room. When he did not return, his father went to check on him, and at that time Bill shot himself in the chest.

On September 13, 1984, while John Hella is being interviewed by police regarding the suspect Alan Palovaara, John is asked if he has any theories of his own as to what happened to the Heikell boy. John stated that his only thought on the subject was that of the Langdon boy shooting himself, and figured there may be some connection there.

The former Langdon home, located at the corner of Fourth and Jefferson Streets in Centennial Heights.

Locations of Note

Calumet Armory (Calumet Colosseum) 110 Red Jacket Road, Calumet MI 49913

Bobby Erkilla tells police that his son, Mark Erkilla, saw and spoke to Karl Heikell at the Calumet Armory on October 31, 1981 at 3pm.

Calumet Post Office 201 6th Street, Calumet MI 49913

Jack Thompson and Ricky Marcotte both say they saw Karl in front of the Calumet post office in the afternoon on October 31, 1981.

Harter’s Party Store 511 Pine Street, Calumet MI 49913

Loretta Blau tells police she saw Karl walking by Row Oil Co., which is near Harter’s Party Store, at 1pm on October 31, 1981.

A store employee claims that children came into the store on October 31, 1981 saying they were scared; that an older man with a mask was following them around in a car.

John Hella, who knew Karl Heikell and was familiar with the boy through his father, Lawrence (Larry) Heikell, is positive he saw and spoke with Karl at Harter’s Party store on October 31, 1981, sometime after 6PM. Hella, Alan Palovaara’s employer at the time, also notes that Alan often browsed paperback books in Harter’s Store.

Harter’s Party store is still open, located at the corner of Sixth and Pine Streets.

Heikell Residence [Formerly] 238 Second Street, Calumet MI

The former Heikell residence, where Karl Heikell and his family lived at the time of his disappearance, is in Centennial Heights. At the time of Karl's disappearance, the address was 238 Second Street. Today the home still stands and is occupied, although the address has changed.

John and Vi’s Restaurant

Rod Salani, an MTU student from Calumet, says Karl was in John and Vi’s around 6pm on October 31, 1981. Rod does not know Karl, and says Tina Lockhart (possibly Contreras) says she saw him there.

Tina Contreras tells police that Karl was in John and Vi’s restaurant on October 31, 1981 around 9pm, and that he kept running back and forth across the street to SAKS, Superior Bowling Alley.

The Langdon Home 201 Jefferson Street, Calumet, Michigan

This is the address of the Langdon family's home at the time of Bill Langdon's suicide in 1982. It is located at the corner of 4th and Jefferson and is still occupied today.

Martha Murphy Apartment Building Police reports place this location at the corner of Pine and 3rd streets in Calumet, MI. It doesn’t appear that an apartment building still exists at that location.

Around 6PM on October 31, 1981, John Hella and Alan Palovaara unload items purchased at an auction from Hella’s truck, at a small garage they were working out of, which was attached to the east end of the Martha Murphy Apartment Building.

Miller’s Bar 311 Hecla Street, Laurium MI 49913

Lisa Hekiell, Karl’s sister, tells police that at about 6:30pm on March 13, 1982, she ran into Dale Karvola at Miller’s Bar. Dale Karvola states that on the night Karl was found to be missing, Dale was drinking with Karl and Terry Reilley on the old dam patch and that Dale had told Karl to “take off”, which he did, and that this was the last time Dale saw Karl, while he was walking away from them.

Mr. Radiator Shop At some point prior to 1981, this Shop was located at the corner of 3rd Street and Pine. At the time of Karl Heikell’s disappearance in 1981, it was located at the corner of 5th street and Pine.

The Mr. Radiator Shop was a combined car garage and gas station, owned by Paul Heikell and various others.

Alan Palovaara was known to be employed at Mr. Radiator’s at the time of Karl Heikell’s disappearance in 1981 and at the time of Alan Palovaara’s police interview and polygraph in 1984.

Police surveil Alan at the Mr. Radiator Shop on November 8, 1984, with the intent to bring him in for questioning when he finishes work for the day. He works late, and they decide not to approach him or interview him until the weekend.

Paul Heikell’s Wrecker Service Per police reports, the Wreckers Service was located at the corner of 1st and Jefferson Streets in Centennial Heights in 1984.

In police reports dated November 8, 1984, it is noted that Alan Palovaara is residing at the small apartment located at Paul Heikell’s Wrecker Service. Marilyn Heikell, Paul’s wife, estimates that Alan moved out a month prior, after Paul asked him to upon learning of the extent to which Alan was sexually abusing his sons.

On September 14, 1984, police locate and identify one of Alan’s vehicles, a white, four-door Chevrolet station wagon, at Paul Heikell’s Wrecker Service.

Perko’s Bar Police reports dated 1984 note that Perko’s Bar is located two buildings down from Harter’s Party Store.

Former romantic partners and co-workers of Alan Palovaara note that he liked to frequent Perko’s Bar. John Hella told police it was Alan’s favorite drinking establishment.

Quality Super Value In 1981, this location was at 200 Calumet Street, Lake Linden, 49945. The location is now the home of Quality Hardware. Super Value is now at 5400 Bridge Street, Lake Linden.

Carleen Karvola of Lake Linden states she saw Karl walking across the street from Quality Super Value, towards Hubbell, at 4pm on November 1, 1981. A few days later on November 4, police note that Carleen Karvola showed them an old shack behind her home that Karl used to play in, and claims to have spoken to Karl on November 1.

Rowe Oil Co. 513 6th Street, Calumet MI 49913

Loretta Blau tells police she saw Karl walking by Row Oil Co., which is near Harter’s Party Store, at 1pm on October 31, 1981.

SAKS, Superior Bowling Alley

Tina Contreras tells police that Karl was in John and Vi’s restaurant on October 31, 1981 around 9pm, and that he kept running back and forth across the street to SAKS, Superior Bowling Alley.

Eddie Plute thinks he saw Karl outside of SAKS, Superior Bowling Alley on November 3, 1981 at 8am.

Sharon’s Bar 433 5th Street, Calumet MI 49913

Former romantic partners of Alan Palovaara note that he liked to frequent Sharon’s Bar. This bar was later called Yesterday’s Bar, and then the Northend Bar. Today it is permanently closed.

U.P. Pub 315 5th Street, Calumet MI 49913

Jane Palovaara, Alan Palovaara’s ex-wife, tells police that the U.P. Pub was one of Alan’s favorite drinking establishments.

Woolworth’s 215 5th Street, Calumet MI 49913. This location is now the Keweenaw Storytelling Center.

Laurie Nichols says she saw Karl at Woolworth’s at noon on November 4, 1981. She lent him a quarter.