Two bodies have been found in a car at the bottom of a river in Illinois, USA. After DNA testing, they have been identified as those of two men who have been missing since 1976.
They had been missing for nearly half a century. The remains of two men have been found in Illinois, United States, and identified as those of two people reported missing in 1976, local authorities announced on Tuesday, September 10, reports CBS News.
The two bodies were found in a car submerged at the bottom of the Pecatonica River in Illinois. The vehicle was a 1966 Chevrolet that was spotted by chance by fishermen last March using a sonar system to detect fish. A crane was needed to pull the car out of the water.
Badly damaged by water and time, the skeletons were found in the mud, at a depth of 2 to 3 meters. They were analyzed by experts who were able, after DNA testing, to formally identify them as those of Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley.
Two businessmen
The two Americans, aged 65 and 72 at the time of their disappearance, were businessmen. One worked as a real estate broker and the other as a salesman.
They were last seen leaving a farm auction on February 19, 1976 in Illinois. They were later seen leaving in a Chevrolet.
They were supposed to go to a meeting about 40 kilometers away, but were never seen there afterward.
A discovery that “brings” families closer to the “truth”
“This brings us one step closer to the moment of truth for the families of Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley, who have been waiting many years for answers in this tragic case,” said Winnebago County, Illinois Sheriff Gary Caruana.
According to another sheriff, from Winnebago County, Gary Caruana, this discovery “is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our detectives and forensic experts.”
“It reminds us that no case is ever truly closed, no matter how much time has passed,” he said.
According to law enforcement, the cause of both deaths is not yet known, but no signs of trauma have been identified. No foul play is suspected.
