The remains of two men missing from Illinois nearly 50 years ago have been found in a car salvaged from a river, the coroner’s office has confirmed.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office said the skeletal remains found in a 1966 Chevrolet Impala submerged in the Pecatonica River belong to Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley, it reported. WIFR.
Owens, 65, and Hawley, 75, were last seen at a farm auction near the Winnebago-Ogle County line on Feb. 19, 1976, according to Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.
The car involved in the case was found in the river in March. The coroner’s office said the cause of death is unknown, but foul play is not suspected.
“This brings us one step closer to bringing closure to the families of Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley who have waited many years for answers and who have been affected by this tragic case,” said Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana.
Authorities say skeletal remains found in a 1966 Chevrolet Impala submerged in the Pecatonica River belong to two men who went missing nearly 50 years ago.
Clarence Owens, 65, and Everett Hawley, 75, were last seen at a farm auction near the Winnebago-Ogle County line on February 19, 1976.
“This is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our detectives and forensic experts. It is a reminder that no case is ever truly closed, no matter how much time has passed.”
The two men were business partners and were last seen between 2:40 p.m. and 3 p.m. at a farm auction, it was reported. VOTE.
They had attended a political rally for gubernatorial candidate James Thompson at the American Legion in Pecatonica earlier in the day before stopping at Rocky’s Café and visiting Owen’s son who lived nearby.
The next day, the two men missed a scheduled appointment in German Valley and were reported missing.
In March, a fisherman told authorities his sonar equipment detected a car in the Pecatonica River near E. First and Washington streets.
In March, a fisherman’s car was found on sonar and authorities found more than 100 human bones belonging to two people.
Winnebago County Coroner Jennifer Muraski (pictured) said because the remains were underwater for so long, it took longer than expected to identify them.
Video from the scene shows crews and divers using a crane to remove the 1966 Chevrolet Impala.
Authorities found more than 100 bones belonging to at least two people, and Winnebago County Coroner Jennifer Muraski confirmed in May that the remains belonged to two men.
“It was very difficult for the forensic anthropologists to do their job because they were underwater for a long time and it was also a burden on those trying to do the DNA extraction,” Muraski said.
“But they did it, and that’s why it took a little longer than we expected.”