NORTH WEBSTER - Though it’s been 50 years this August that Laurel Jean Mitchell was taken away from her family and friends, she has never been forgotten.
Saturday morning, a bench placed at the Lions Club Mermaid Festival grounds in her memory was unveiled in a brief ceremony.
Cory Benz, owner and funeral director of Titus Funeral Home and Cremation Services, who provided the memorial bench, began the ceremony, stating, “As a member of our community, we know that you’ve felt this loss deeply for many years. We gather here to dedicate this bench for Laurel, whose young soul was taken too soon and whose memory will live on forever.”

    Sarah Knisley, sister of Laurel J. Mitchell, poses for a photo with the bench dedicated to Laurel’s memory. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

He said they donated the bench in remembrance, but also “as a place that you can sit, feel the breeze and just reflect. To honor her memory and perhaps find a moment of peace and a moment of healing.
“To Laurel’s family, we know your sister, your daughter, your friend will be remembered forever in this community because of this bench.”
Benz thanked Sue’s Creations for donating a wreath and the Lions Club for donating the space.
On Aug. 6, 1975, Laurel, 17, was dropped off at Epworth Forest Church Camp to work her shift at a snack bar. Around 10 p.m. that night, after her shift had ended, she was seen walking in Epworth Forest to meet her friends at Adventureland Amusement Park on the north side of North Webster. This was the last time Laurel was seen alive.
Around 4:16 a.m. Aug. 7, 1975, a missing person report with the Indiana State Police was filed for Laurel. At 10:30 a.m. that same day, her body was discovered in the Elkhart River.
All of the clothing and belongings found on Laurel's body at the time of her death were preserved for testing. Testing of the items in 2019-23 led authorities to Fred Bandy Jr., 69, Goshen, and John W. Lehman, 68, Auburn, as well as years of testimony from those who know the men.
On Oct. 8, 2024, Bandy was found guilty of first degree murder by Noble Circuit Court Judge Michael Kramer. At his sentencing Oct. 22 in Noble Circuit Court, Bandy was given life in prison for murdering Laurel.
Lehman was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2024, to eight years in the Indiana Department of Correction for conspiracy to commit murder, a class A felony.

    Cory Benz, owner of Titus Funeral Home, welcomes a crowd of about 50 people to the dedication ceremony of the Laurel J. Mitchell bench at the Lions Club Mermaid Festival grounds in North Webster. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

At Saturday’s dedication, Bill McDonald - who was one of the two men who testified about Bandy making statements about his involvement in Laurel’s murder - recalled meeting her and read a poem written by his brother, Mike McDonald.
“What a blessing it was for me to meet Laurel. I was a sophomore in high school, and I was going to a high school basketball game at Wawasee, and as me and my friend walk in the door, here come this big smiling face. She said, ‘Hey, are you boys from West Noble?’ And I said, ‘Yes, we are.’ And she said - this was the first time I met her - ‘I’ve got a couple girlfriends who would like to sit with you guys at the game.’ And I looked behind us and said, ‘Us?’ So we sat with those gals at the game,” he recalled.
About two weeks later, he and his friend went to another ball game. Coming through North Webster, they stopped to get a snack on their way to Whitko High School. They ran into Laurel again, who told McDonald her girlfriends told her that McDonald and his friends were well behaved at the prior ballgame.
“So that was the two times I met her, and what a blessing it was,” Bill said.
Before reading Mike’s poem, he encouraged anyone who knew anything about a cold case to talk to someone and speak out. He also quoted Luke 12:2 from the Bible, which reminded him of Laurel’s story: “For there is nothing covered, that will not be revealed; nor hidden, that will not be known.”
Polly Mock then addressed the gathering of about 50 people.
“To the Mitchells, there are not enough words to express our heartfelt condolences to all those who were affected by this senseless, horrific tragedy almost 50 years ago. Today, we get to have Laurel Jean’s memory and name live on and never forgotten. As a community I hope we have supported you, I hope we have stood by you and through our prayers comforted you,” she said.
Mock thanked everyone for coming out to the dedication as she was sure it meant a lot to the family.
“And to Titus Funeral Home, for your generosity. And to the Lions Club for letting us put this bench in the perfect place,” she said.
Mark Lawson, Lions Club president, explained why the bench was placed in front of the restrooms building.
“The reason why it was put there is because Dick Mitchell, before he passed, he was in the Lions Club and he wanted to have a brand new restroom. There were a few people who were not happy about it, but we voted for it and we paid it off and we decided that would be a perfect place to put it,” Lawson explained.
Dick was Laurel’s father.

    Cory Benz (L), owner of Titus Funeral Home, and Sarah Knisley (R), sister of Laurel J. Mitchell, unveil the memorial bench in Laurel’s honor Saturday morning. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

Benz then brought Laurel’s sister, Sarah Knisley, up to unveil the bench by removing the blankets placed on it.
“Thank everybody for coming out today. It means a lot to Bruce and I. To Liam,” she said, adding after the unveiling, “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
Benz said, “Hopefully, it’s a lasting, enduring remembrance.”
After the ceremony, Benz said Titus Funeral Home got involved just through the community.
“We knew the story and recently found out that they found the gentlemen who allegedly took her life,” he said.
Tyler Huffer, Titus Funeral Home and county coroner, said, “We had probably five to six community members come to the funeral home asking, ‘Hey, what can we do to help commemorate Laurel’s life?' So, over the past year or so we came up with this idea of doing a bench with Polly Mock, Lisa Strombeck, with a few of them that were inspirational in helping make this happen. And then the Lions Club donated the space here.”
Titus had the bench created through its monument vendor.
“It’s all about community,” Benz said.
Knisley said the bench was “awesome” and “beautiful.”
She said the bench and the dedication ceremony was a way to put everything to rest.
“She’s at rest now and she’s got her justice, sort of, and this whole fairgrounds is big to my parents, especially my dad being a Lions and building a lot of this,” Knisley stated.
Dick Mitchell died Jan. 16, 2012, at 81 years old. Wilma May Mitchell, mother of Laurel, Sarah, Richard and Bruce, died April 24, 2012, at 81 years old.
Sue Ann Mitchell was married to Dick Mitchell from Feb. 14, 1981, until his passing.
“The bench is absolutely beautiful. So thankful for Titus being willing to do that in memory of Laurel. That’s such a great thing, and Dick would be so proud today,” Sue Ann said. “I know that people kind of laugh because it’s in front of the bathroom, but this was his pet project, something he really believed the Lions Club needed to do, and he was always so proud that they got it done because it’s quite a great asset to the lands now.”
She said Dick would be so proud to know that people care, as evidenced by the crowd that was there for the ceremony Saturday morning.