Durk Elliott VanDam, 44, of Rockford is behind bars on a $50,000 bond after prosecutors filed multiple felony charges connected to a 2024 missing teen case that consumed the Kent County community for seven weeks.

VanDam was arrested last week and is now charged with creating child sexually abusive material, assault by strangulation, felony assault, and domestic violence in the third degree. If convicted on the most serious charge, he could face up to 20 years in prison, according to court records.

A Missing Teen, a Seven-Week Search

The charges trace back to the summer of 2024, when Penelope "Penny" Wise, then 17, disappeared from her family's home in Cedar Springs. She was last seen leaving on May 31, 2024.

Security footage later captured Wise walking in downtown Rockford near the Corner Bar early the next morning, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Office.

The two met on the street by chance after Wise walked away from her home following an argument with her parents, the Sheriff's Office said at the time. She was ultimately located on July 21, 2024, after a neighbor recognized her outside VanDam's home on Northland Drive and called police.

At the time, prosecutors acknowledged the situation was "clearly troubling" but said no criminal charges could be filed under Michigan law because Wise was 17 and had left her home voluntarily, according to WOODTV.

Authorities never publicly named VanDam during the original investigation.

New Allegations Surface

The domestic violence case stems from an alleged assault on October 14, 2025, at VanDam's Rockford address.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Wise told police the two began arguing about money when VanDam allegedly punched her in the throat two times. Investigators said VanDam later struck Wise repeatedly with a belt, dragged her to the ground by the hair, stomped on her ribs and stomach, and eventually choked her in a wooded area near the home.

Wise told VanDam at one point during the altercation that he was "going to kill" her, to which he allegedly replied, "good."

Police said Wise reported nearly losing consciousness during the alleged strangulation. Officers documented injuries including bruising, scratches, and redness around her throat, according to the filing.

A History of Domestic Violence

Court documents show VanDam was previously convicted of domestic violence in 2006, 2016, and 2021. The third-offense charge makes this the fourth domestic violence conviction prosecutors are seeking.

Child Sexually Abusive Material Charges

In a separate case filed January 15, 2026, VanDam was charged with child sexually abusive activity.

The investigation began after a tip through the Silent Observer program alleged VanDam had explicit photos of a minor on his iPhone. Police obtained a search warrant for the phone and sent it to the Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children unit for forensic review.

The affidavit said investigators located 10 images, 18 videos, and 25 photos of media information tied to the investigation, including possible child sexually abusive material.

What the Sheriff's Office Says

In a statement Friday, Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir explained why charges were not filed after the original 2024 investigation.

"At the conclusion of our investigation, the case was submitted in its entirety to the prosecutor for review of any charges they deemed appropriate based on the information available during the investigation," Muir said. "The Prosecuting Attorney's Office makes decisions regarding prosecution."

VanDam remains in the Kent County jail while his cases move through the courts.

If you have information about this case, contact the Kent County Sheriff's Office or the Rockford Police Department.