Friends remember Mishawaka woman found dead
Friends remember Mishawaka woman found dead Save Email Print
Posted: 6:06 PM Dec 11, 2008
 Last Updated: 6:58 PM Dec 11, 2008
 Reporter: Ryan Famuliner
Email Address: ryan.famuliner@wndu.com
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Friends and former co-workers are stunned after a tragic ending to a search for a missing Mishawaka woman.

Berrien County police say they found 35-year-old Donna Mae Maximenko's body last night in a wooded area behind a New Buffalo hotel.

Police have not yet released the cause of death and will not say if it is being treated as a homicide or not.

There was an autopsy scheduled for Thursday, and we're still awaiting those results.

Meanwhile, friends and co-workers who were hopeful they could find Maximenko alive say the news of the discovery is hard to swallow.

On Wednesday night, friends gathered at The Vine in downtown South Bend to form a search party that would have started looking for Maximenko Thursday morning.

But instead Thursday, it was a quiet and somber morning.

“It was really strange today to walk in this morning because you just expect Donna to be in the bar so I think everyone’s just in shock,” said Mary Spillane, owner of The Vine.

She'd only worked at The Vine for about 9 months, but the owner says Maximenko had already found her niche.

“She just had that very dynamic personality. She was so upbeat and she… was always laughing and you could joke around with her and mess with her,” Spillane said.

But Maximenko may be more widely remembered for the 10 years she worked as a bartender at The Linebacker.

“She touched a lot of peoples lives over the course of her time here in South Bend,” said Greg Delinski, General Manager of The Linebacker.

Online message boards at sites like Facebook and ND Nation, remember her too.

Now, some say, they can only hope for answers.

“We just want to know what happened. She doesn’t seem like the type that would take her own life, so we just want to know was there any foul play? Was she somewhere, did someone follow her, what happened. Just to put closure on it for everyone’s sake that knew her,” Spillane said.

“I don’t think it’s very important; how it happened. I think it’s important we remember the good times and remember her as she was,” Delinski said.

Friends say some of the speculation about a bad break-up may have been blown out of proportion, but again, police have not released a cause of death at this time.

Meanwhile, WNDU spoke with some of those friends who were planning to go out looking for Maximenko Thursday.

They did not want to comment on camera, because they said it had been a very rough night and morning after getting the news. They had hoped and prayed this wouldn't be how the story ended.

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Posted by: Conrad on Dec 13, 2008 at 09:26 PM
We will miss you Donna. May you be sitting at the big bar in the sky.
Posted by: jim Location: SB on Dec 12, 2008 at 07:52 PM
i didn't know Donna, but from the posts here I can tell she was truely wonderfull person and will be missed. To "outlaw", just because you have had problems with drinker dosn't make everyone who drinks a bad person. and to "proud SBPD" what happened to you to hate the police so much?
Posted by: anonymous on Dec 12, 2008 at 07:48 PM
its horrible to think because based on her personality, i was one of those who said there is no way this was suicide... but it is obvious..she was clearly depressed, had been drinking since 4 p.m., she inquired about her recent ex-boyfriends facebook relationship status over the phone to one of her best friends. she didnt like what she heard and thought it was so devastating that she got more drunk, felt there was no one who cared, went to meijer to get something to induce her suicide and that is that...there are whispers about sleeping pills & vodka near the scene... she was such a charismatic woman. could make anyone happy at any moment. she will truly be missed. if she only knew how many people actually would have helped her... R.I.P. Donna.
Posted by: Meka Location: Nashville on Dec 12, 2008 at 06:16 PM
As a former S-Bend bartender (for many years) & a friend of Donna's I can say without hesitation that she was a wonderful person and I will never forget how kind she was to me and that she always made me laugh! People who think that because you work in a bar that you are uneducated trash or a drunk-are just ignorant and short-sighted to the real world. Even if you have a drink here & there it does not make you any less of a person. Bottom line is that Donna will be missed by many, may she rest in peace.
Posted by: John Location: New Buffalo on Dec 12, 2008 at 02:34 PM
I did not know this woman but my prayers go out to her friends and family. I normally dont read or post on these forums but I must say that some of the drunk,bar,casino comments are unecessary.
Posted by: Craig Location: Bremen on Dec 12, 2008 at 12:56 PM
I did not know this woman at all but My prayers go out to her friends and family as well. I will not judge this woman in any way. Those of you that do are all sinners as well and everyone of us can look at many things from our lives that weren't good decisions. Did bad decisions lead to this tragedy? It doesn't matter. She was loved by many, obviously, so she must have done alot of great things also. May she rest in peace and her loved ones know that there are also strangers that sympathize along with them.
Posted by: Nicole Location: South Bend on Dec 12, 2008 at 12:47 PM
It is pure stupidity that makes a man open his mouth on a topic he obviously has no clue about. Since some of you obviously know nothing about Donna then you should just shut your mouths! Keep you insane and plain STUPID comments to yourself because although I'm sure you might think that people care about what you've just said - no one really does. Friends and loved ones that knew Donna, know who she was and that a bad word just can't be said about her! She had very quick wit and would in no time at all have something quirky to say to some of you! It would leave the rest of us in tears from the amoutn of laughter we would get out of it. However idiotic, rude, and heartless you may be, you are not worthy of further commenting or time spared for it as we have a friend to mourn. Though you have your stereotypes and vulgar idea of who she might have been, WE know who she was and what she meant to all that encountered her! Donna is smiling down on us now! RIP!
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 12, 2008 at 11:15 AM
As upset as I want to get at some of these posts, I then laugh out loud when I think of Donna b/c not only was she the most kind and caring person to us "lost souls" who needed cheering up, but she was an impeccable judge of character, and would nail to the wall in two seconds any classless jerk like some of the people on this post. I just wish she was here to give us some good zingers for these idiots!
Posted by: Get Some Class Location: NJ on Dec 12, 2008 at 09:59 AM
You people are all nuts trying to blame something tragic on drunks, bars, and casinos. Who cares where someone worked...she was an absolutely joyful person to be around, and it is tragic that she is gone, regardless of how it happened. Why not try to be respectful of her and her friends and family, rather then trying to blame it on drugs, bars and trash. Get some class people...
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 12, 2008 at 09:18 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones during this difficult time. Working in a bar does not make one trash. Usually just very hardworking and trying to make ends meet in an economy becoming increasingly difficult to survive or navigate each day.
Posted by: Myrt on Dec 12, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Sounds like she was a wonderful lady and will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. To Outlaw Drinking: She WORKED in a bar and because she frequented a bar doesn't mean she was drunk or even drinking alcohol at all. I used to tend bar myself and I used to also sit at the bar after work because some of my friends were there. I would sometimes drink a beer, sometimes iced tea - and guess what my friends and I aren't "drunk trash"! I hope that people don't judge you as you judge others! Maybe you should take a long-hard look at yourself.
Posted by: outlaw stupid people on Dec 12, 2008 at 05:10 AM
Outlaw, you do not have a clue.
Posted by: are you kidding? Location: SB on Dec 12, 2008 at 02:17 AM
drunks, bars, trash?? Donna was not a drunk, she worked hard in a restaurant. She had more class than most people I know. Ignore the self-righteous people and celebrate the wonderful woman that Donna was.
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 11, 2008 at 11:18 PM
yes she was a very pretty lady. i hope they find out what really happen to her. a man is not worth taking your life because when you're dead and gone they;re still with someone esle.
Posted by: Show of Support Location: ND on Dec 11, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Put candles under the sign on the corner at the Linbacker. There's one there now. Put a thousand...
Posted by: Buckeye Neighbor Location: Mishawaka on Dec 11, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Donna we will miss you and your smiling face everyday with Augustine.
Posted by: out law drinking Location: not at a bar on Dec 11, 2008 at 10:25 PM
thats what happens when ya deal with DRUNKS and BARS! yes its so so sad she got mixed up in this bar and drunk trash !
Posted by: been there Location: mishawaka on Dec 11, 2008 at 10:10 PM
its too bad people have to think the worst just because a woman works at a bar , & frequents a bar , they just need to wait & let the police do their job . i personally think there is someone out there preying on women , that for some reason has not been caught , whoever it is , he has been there right at the time when the person is at her most lowest point in her life , so let the police do their job & pray for the family
Posted by: Anon Location: ND on Dec 11, 2008 at 10:09 PM
You will be missed. RIP Donna
Posted by: Scott Location: Sb on Dec 11, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Wow Jeff. That might be the worst comment I have ever seen on this board. RIP
Posted by: Brother"C" Location: New Carlisle on Dec 11, 2008 at 09:14 PM
Donna may your soul be at rest. We will all miss you.
Posted by: Proud SBPD on Dec 11, 2008 at 08:29 PM
I still think my original hunch will come out as fact.
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 11, 2008 at 08:10 PM
She was so pretty.
Posted by: sad Location: South Bend on Dec 11, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Donna you will truly be missed! R.I.P. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends!

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