DNA test on Skeletal remains found in car Remains found in an Illinois river have confirmed they are two men who disappeared in 1976 after leaving a farm auction, authorities said.
Tests conducted by the Illinois State Police Forensic Services Division confirmed the remains were those of Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley, the Winnebago County coroner’s office said Tuesday.
Hawley, 72, of Stockton, Illinois, and Owens, 65, of Freeport, Illinois, disappeared after leaving a farm auction on Feb. 19, 1976, near the Winnebago-Ogle county line, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office said.
Hawley was a real estate broker in Freeport, while Owens was a salesman in Hawley’s company.
“This brings us one step closer to resolving the issues for the families of Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley who have waited many years for answers, affected by this tragic case,” Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana said in a statement.
In March, fishermen along the Pecatonica River discovered a submerged vehicle in the river using fish-finding sonar.
“It’s a real challenge because it’s sitting in the mud, 8 to 10 feet deep, which is not very deep but it’s deep enough,” Sheriff Caruana told CBS affiliate WIFR-TV after the discovery.
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Rescue crews then used a crane to pull the 1966 Chevrolet Impala sedan out of the river in the village of Pecatonica, the Rockford Register Star reported. The men had left the farm auction in the vehicle, authorities said.
Owens and Hawley were seen at the farm auction with the Impala, which Owens owned and had a new coat of gold paint at the time, according to the Doe Network, a nonprofit database for information on missing and unidentified persons. The men had attended a political rally in the area before stopping at the auction and had planned to meet up together in German Valley, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Winnebago County, after leaving the auction. They never made that appointment.
More than 100 bones were recovered from the vehicle and the river at the site, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Chicago. DNA extracted from the bones was compared to DNA profiles of the men’s relatives to identify them.
Before DNA testing, the remains were examined by a forensic anthropologist in St. Louis, Missouri, who found no evidence of trauma.
Winnebago County Coroner Jennifer Muraski told WIFR-TV that the cause of death for both men is still unknown, but foul play is not suspected.
“This is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our detectives and forensic experts,” Sheriff Caruana said. “It reminds us that no case is ever truly closed, no matter how much time has passed.”
Emily Mae Czachor contributed to this report.
