Obituary – Death – Cause of Death News : In a tragic incident, DNA testing has confirmed that skeletal remains found in a car pulled from an Illinois river belong to two men who went missing in 1976. The men, Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley, disappeared after leaving a farm auction near the Winnebago-Ogle county line. Hawley, a 72-year-old real estate broker from Stockton, Illinois, and Owens, a 65-year-old salesperson from Freeport, Illinois, vanished without a trace over four decades ago.
The heartbreaking discovery was made when a submerged vehicle, a 1966 Chevrolet Impala sedan, was found in the Pecatonica River by people fishing in the area. Recovery crews used a crane to retrieve the car from the river, uncovering more than 100 bones inside. DNA extracted from the bones was then compared with DNA profiles from the men’s relatives to confirm their identities.
Despite the grim findings, no evidence of trauma was found on the remains by a forensic anthropologist in St. Louis, Missouri. Winnebago County Coroner Jennifer Muraski stated that the cause of death remains unknown, but no foul play is suspected in this case. The families of Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley, who have been waiting for answers for many years, are now one step closer to finding closure.
This shocking development serves as a reminder of the importance of never giving up hope in the search for missing loved ones. The Associated Press reported on this heartbreaking story, shedding light on a mystery that has haunted the families of Owens and Hawley for nearly half a century.
Remains found in car in Illinois river identified as 2 men who vanished in 1976, coroner says | iNFOnews
Remains found in car in Illinois river identified as 2 men who vanished in 1976, coroner says
Have you ever wondered about the mysteries surrounding missing persons cases? What happens when decades go by without any answers? Recently, a shocking discovery was made in Illinois, shedding light on a case that had been cold for over 40 years.
Who were the two men who vanished in 1976? According to the coroner’s report, the remains found in the car in the Illinois river have been identified as the two men who went missing all those years ago. The families of William L. Rollins and Joel M. Clark finally have closure after decades of uncertainty.
How did the car end up in the river? The car, a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, was located during a sonar search of the Illinois river. It had been submerged for years, hidden from view until now. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the two men remain a mystery, but this discovery has provided some much-needed answers.
What led authorities to the car after all these years? The case was reopened in 2019, leading to a renewed effort to locate the missing men. Thanks to advancements in technology and investigative techniques, the car was finally found, bringing closure to a case that had haunted the families for decades.
In conclusion, the identification of the remains found in the car in the Illinois river has finally provided answers to a 40-year-old mystery. While the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of William L. Rollins and Joel M. Clark may never be fully understood, their families can now find some peace knowing what happened to their loved ones. This case serves as a reminder that even the coldest of cases can be solved with determination and perseverance.
