On January 12, 2010, Joanne Mattek Roman, a devout and social mother of three, attended a prayer service in Gross Point Woods, Michigan. That was the last time she was seen alive. Police determined that Ms. Román descended a snowy hill in high heels and drowned, but her family disputes that theory. Although Matouk Romain's death was ruled a suicide, her family is convinced that something happened to her, and that story is the subject of Episode 5, Volume 2 of Unsolved Mysteries. (opens in new tab)

Romain (opens in new tab) was the beloved mother of three children, a large family of four siblings. In the weeks leading up to her death, her children were paranoid that she was not talking, even saying that they were being followed, that their phones were being tapped, and that she had apparently changed the locks on their doors. They were very suspicious of her because suicide is considered a sin in Catholicism.

Police determined that Romain got out of her car, staggered from the snow bank to the water's edge in high heels, and entered the water. There were no footprints leading back to the car. Her body was found more than 30 miles away in the water near the Canadian border (open in new tab), but her family believes there was not enough current to carry her there.

The circumstances of her death remain confusing. According to the episode, a witness who left the church before 9:30 claimed that he did not see her car. Another witness claims to have seen her leaving the church, and the panic alarm in her car went off for about 10 seconds. A possible robbery was ruled out, as Romain's wallet was found in her car, as well as her purse and $1,500 in cash. However, her cell phone and keys were missing, and her daughters said the sides of the purse were torn, which the police disputed. A second autopsy conducted by the family revealed bruises on Romain's arms.

According to a 2016 Detroit Free Press (opens in new tab) article, based on an independent forensic investigation funded by Joanne's daughter Michelle, there were several other unusual elements at the crime scene. Police are claiming it was a suicide.

In 2019, a federal appeals court upheld the dismissal (opens in new tab) of a lawsuit filed by the family against the Detroit Police Department for covering up Romain's death, which the police deny.

Anyone with information on JoAnn Matouk Romain should visit unsolved.com.