Divers recover car belonging to missing woman Karen Schepers after 42 years
- The search for Karen Schepers has been ongoing since her disappearance in April 1983.
- Divers have located a vehicle thought to belong to Schepers in the Fox River, utilizing sonar technology.
- The recovery of the car marks the beginning of further investigative efforts to bring closure to the Schepers family.
In Elgin, Illinois, a significant development in the cold case of Karen Schepers unfolded as divers returned to the Fox River to recover a vehicle believed to belong to her. Karen Schepers vanished on April 16, 1983, after last being seen at a bar in Carpentersville. She was reportedly the last person from her group to leave the establishment, and there were no sightings of her or her vehicle, a yellow 1980 Toyota Celica, after that night. For years, her whereabouts remained a mystery, leaving her family and the community in search of answers. Over four decades later, the Elgin Police Department, alongside the nonprofit organization Chaos Divers, utilized sonar technology to locate the missing vehicle in the Fox River near the Slade Avenue boat launch. The police initiated the search with no new leads but aimed to ensure thorough documentation of the investigation steps regarding Schepers. This effort highlighted the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to work collaboratively with external resources to uncover the truth. The recovery operation is expected to follow a careful and extensive process, incorporating drones and divers to ensure the safety of those involved while maintaining the car’s structural integrity. Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley emphasized the importance of this vehicle recovery, considering it a beginning in an open and active investigation rather than a conclusion. The Kane County Coroner's Office will determine if any human remains are found within the vehicle following its removal from the river, which raises both hope and apprehension for Schepers' family. Gary Schepers, Karen's brother, expressed mixed emotions about the ongoing search, indicating that although he recognizes no entirely good outcome is likely, finding closure in this case would bring a significant sense of peace for the family. He reflected on the extensive search efforts his father undertook by plane in pursuit of Karen shortly after her disappearance, noting that current investigative actions are more thorough than those witnessed in the past. The community and law enforcement continue to hope that the efforts to recover the car could provide answers to the mysterious fate of Karen Schepers, bringing closure to a family that has waited for over 40 years.