Mystery Resurfaces After 42 Years: Missing Woman’s Car Pulled from Illinois River — Human Remains Discovered Inside
A cold case that haunted a family for over four decades may finally be unraveling after a shocking discovery was made in Elgin, Illinois this week. A 1980 canary yellow Toyota Celica, missing since 1983, was recovered from the Fox River, and inside — investigators found skeletal human remains.
Long-Lost Car Recovered After 42 Years
The vehicle was discovered by Chaos Divers, a nonprofit search and recovery team, who located the car near the Slade Avenue boat launch using sonar technology. Crews worked for hours before finally removing the car from the river just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
The license plate confirmed the vehicle belonged to 23-year-old Karen Schepers, a young woman from Elgin who vanished without a trace after attending a party on April 16, 1983. Neither she nor her car was seen again — until now.
DNA Testing Underway
While the remains have not yet been formally identified, authorities are comparing DNA and dental records to determine if they belong to Karen. The process may take several weeks.
“We were pushing against a brick wall for 42 years, and now, it’s starting to give,” said Gary Schepers, Karen’s brother.
Gary revealed that the only known search in 1983 was done by their father — a pilot who rented a plane in hopes of spotting her bright yellow car from the sky. Tragically, the vehicle remained hidden beneath the water all along.
Cold Case Podcast Helped Crack the Case
The renewed investigation gained momentum earlier this year thanks to a podcast launched by the Elgin Police Department, titled Somebody Knows Something. The podcast encouraged community members to come forward with new information, leading to several promising tips that ultimately pinpointed the car’s location.
“You don’t feel like you can move on until you find answers,” said Elizabeth Paulson, Karen’s 90-year-old mother.
Karen’s sister, Susan Trainer, shared the emotional toll her disappearance has taken over the years — always scanning crowds, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone who resembled Karen.
Still Waiting for Closure
Even with the car recovered and evidence in hand, the family continues to search for answers.
“The feeling today is not much different from yesterday,” Gary said. “We still don’t know what happened to her.”
Police say the car is now in secure storage while investigators work to uncover how it ended up in the river — and whether foul play was involved.
As the investigation continues, the Schepers family and the community hold onto hope that the truth — after 42 long years — is finally within reach.
Scroll down to see exclusive photos from the recovery site and learn more about the podcast that brought this cold case back to life.
