A 14-year-old Michigan boy vanished without explanation in the Caribbean after going jet-skiing with a man his family had met while on holiday. Max DeVries went missing off the coast of Aruba in May 2005.
Disappearance and search
In a baffling turn of events, the man returned alone, with no sign of Max. Despite an extensive search operation, Max was never located, with Aruban authorities ruling that he had been lost at sea. His mother, Yvonne, however, remained firmly convinced that something sinister had taken place.
Max was a well-loved boy with a deep passion for the sea. Heartbreak had already struck the family when his father George died of a heart attack on 10th November 2002.
Holiday encounter
Mindful of her son's love of water sports, Yvonne resolved to lift her children's spirits by taking them on a Caribbean getaway. The island of Aruba, boasting abundant crystal-clear waters and family-friendly amenities, appeared to be the ideal choice for the DeVries family.
During their stay, they struck up a friendship with two fellow American tourists, who introduced themselves as a father and his adopted son. The pair joined the DeVries family for parasailing and subsequently jet-skiing. Max was instantly captivated. The older man offered to take him out on another jet-skiing excursion. Though initially hesitant, Yvonne gave her consent after the man agreed to cover the rental cost.
Suspicions and theories
Yet despite being expected back within 45 minutes, well over an hour elapsed with no sign of their return. Aruban authorities launched a sea search that eventually led to the older man being found, though Max remained missing. The man claimed both watercraft had stalled, causing Max to topple overboard and drift out of sight.
However, Yvonne had her suspicions. In 2024, Yvonne disclosed on the Kitchen Table Research podcast that the older man "had scratches on his neck, on his arm, and on his hand. And I knew right away that those were Max's defensive scratch marks."
Several theories have since emerged online. A background check uncovered that the older man had previously been arrested in California for crimes against children, raising grave concerns that Max may have fallen victim to a sexual crime or assault. During the sea search for Max, police knocked on the door of the room where the man was reportedly staying, but received no answer. According to Yvonne, the man appeared out of nowhere just as his father was heading back to shore. The son claimed he had been in his room, prompting questions as to why he had not heard the knocking.
There are also striking similarities to the case of Amy Lynn Bradley, who vanished from a cruise ship in the Caribbean in March 1998. As the vessel was near Curaçao's coastline at the time, debate continues over whether Amy was covertly removed from the ship and trafficked.
FBI investigation and plea
Several investigators and family representatives have speculated that Max may have been trafficked, though none have uncovered sufficient evidence to substantiate this theory. The FBI did launch an investigation into Max DeVries' disappearance, but closed the case in 2008, allegedly to redirect resources towards counter-terrorism efforts. Despite this, the FBI never returned to investigate Max's disappearance.
Yvonne is now urging the FBI to reopen Max's case, in the hope that the family may finally be able to take conclusive steps towards uncovering what truly happened to Max on that fateful day in Aruba.
