WINNEBAGO COUNTY (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The Winnebago County Coroner says skeletal remains were found in and around a submerged car tied to a nearly 50-year-old missing persons case.
It was Monday when a 1966 Chevy Impala was pulled from the Pecatonica River, after it was earlier detected on sonar by fishermen.
Two men, Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley, had last been seen in the car in February of 1976.
“We’re going to work with a forensic anthropologist and the family to not only see if there’s any injury to these skeletal remains,” coroner Jennifer Mursaski said. “Can we tell the story of what might have happened to them via their remains? Also, DNA, who are they? We’re assuming we know who they are.”
The coroner said they’ve found more than 100 bones, most along the river bank. They’re looking for more.
Sheriff Gary Caruana said right now they’re thinking there was no foul play, but that’s yet to be determined.
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