Car of woman missing for 42 years discovered and authorities take action: “More should have been done”
The Elgin Police Department has admitted they feel disappointed after overlooking the vehicle.
Illinois police have confirmed that a vehicle belonging to a missing woman, found earlier this week in a river, was actually located by another agency almost three years ago. Karen Schepers was 23 years old when she disappeared in April 1983 after a night out with coworkers.
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Her car, a yellow 1980 Toyota Celica with license plate XP8919, was found on Monday, March 24, in the Fox River, according to police. The car was recovered the next day, and skeletal human remains were discovered inside.
Vehicle found 3 years earlier
According to Illinois police, they received a tip in 2022 from a man who had detected an “unusual object” in the Fox River using sonar while fishing. He immediately contacted the fire department, which deployed a diving team to identify the submerged vehicle. When divers entered the river, they found a tire, but it was determined to belong to an SUV or utility vehicle, so no further investigation was conducted.
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In this regard, the Elgin police stated in a report that they were unaware of these diving activities. Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley said she had since met with Fire Chief Robb Cagann “to address the matter,” and Cagann “offered a sincere apology” on behalf of his department. He also acknowledged in a statement that “more should have been done in 2022, including a thorough underwater examination of the vehicle.”
Fire department updates
Following the inefficiency of the fire department’s protocols, the diving units have undergone changes, and Cagann affirmed that the department has “updated its operational protocols and technological capabilities to ensure more efficient and effective diving operations.”
He added, “I do not want the actions of the Elgin Fire Department to take away from the exceptional work done by the Elgin Police in this case.” Meanwhile, Chief Lalley expressed appreciation for how Chief Cagann handled the incident and confirmed that the case will continue to be investigated.