Human remains found in car pulled from Fox River ID'd as Elgin woman missing since 1983

Skeletal remains discovered in a vehicle recovered from the Fox River have been identified as those of Karen Schepers, a woman who went missing from Elgin, Illinois, in 1983. The Kane County Coroner confirmed the identification on Thursday, bringing closure to a case that has remained unresolved for 42 years.

The remains were found within a 1980 canary yellow Toyota Celica, which was retrieved from the Fox River by search teams from a nonprofit organization, Chaos Divers, near the Slade Avenue boat launch. Forensic specialists used dental records provided by Schepers' family to verify her identity quickly, just two days after the car's recovery.

Karen Schepers was 23 years old when she vanished after attending a party with coworkers at a bar in Carpentersville on April 16, 1983. Since then, neither she nor her vehicle had been located until this recent discovery. Her disappearance has remained a mystery for decades, leaving her family and friends seeking answers.

While the car has been moved to a secure location for further investigation, details regarding the circumstances of her death and how she went missing are still unknown. Law enforcement had previously indicated that the identification process might take weeks; however, the rapid confirmation has provided an unexpected update for a case many had thought would remain unsolved.

This recent development coincides with the revival of the cold case through a podcast titled "Somebody Knows Something," launched earlier this year by the Elgin Police Department. The case remains a subject of interest as authorities continue to seek further information and answers regarding Karen Schepers' disappearance.