Remains Found in Submerged Car in Illinois River Identified as 2 Men Who Vanished Nearly 50 Years Ago

The individuals were last seen at a farm auction near the Winnebago-Ogle County line on Feb. 19, 1976, authorities said

Bones found in the Pecatonica River in Illinois earlier this year have been identified as two men who went missing more than 50 years ago.

The Winnebago County Coroner’s Office shared an article from WFIR on social media confirming that its office has identified the remains found in the river as those belonging to Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley — two men who disappeared in 1976.

Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana shared in a statement to the outlet that the latest findings “brings us one step closer to providing closure to the families of Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley who have waited many years for answers that have been affected by this tragic case.”

“This is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our detectives and forensic experts. It’s a reminder that no case is ever truly closed no matter how much time has passed,” he added.

Related: Human Remains Identified as Portland Teenager Who Went Missing 54 Years Ago

Over 100 bones were found inside a 1966 Chevrolet Impala submerged in the river on March 11 by fishermen, per WFIR and CBS News. After the car was discovered, the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office linked the vehicle to the pair’s disappearance.

The pair were last seen at a farm auction near the Winnebago-Ogle County line on February 19, 1976. Witnesses said they had arrived at the event in an Impala with a new coat of gold paint, according to a nonprofit database on missing and unidentified people, the Doe Network, per CBS News.

Related: Woman’s Remains Identified Five Decades After She Went Missing

Owens and Hawley were 65 and 75-years-old, respectively, when they disappeared, according to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office. Police noted that their bodies had “not been found” for several decades.

However, that all changed when the bones found in March were submitted for forensic analysis. A forensic anthropologist in St. Louis, Missouri discovered that the bones belonged to two adult men in April and noted at the time that the bones did not show any signs of trauma, WFIR reported.

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The remains were then submitted for DNA testing to the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services in order to determine the identities of the bodies. Through DNA extraction and profiling, officials were eventually able to link the DNA found in the bones to living relatives of the two men, per WFIR.

Winnebago County Coroner Jennifer Muraski told WFIR that the cause of Owens and Hawley’s death is still unknown and that no foul play is suspected in their deaths.

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