Car linked to 1983 Elgin missing woman cold case unknowingly found in 2022, but was not recovered

ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) -- A vehicle recovered from the Fox River this week linked to the 1983 cold case of missing woman Karen Schepers was initially found in 2022, officials said Thursday.

First responders said they got a call from a fisherman about a vehicle in the water years ago, but they did not pull the vehicle out at that time.

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It turns out Elgin emergency responders came across a vehicle in the Fox River in 2022 but did little about it.

Elgin police said during this week's recovery of a vehicle related to the 1983 cold case investigation of Karen Schepers at the Slade Avenue boat launch, a person approached an Elgin police officer and told them that in 2022, while fishing near the location where the vehicle was eventually found, sonar equipment he was using detected an unusual object in the Fox River. That person contacted the Elgin Fire Department about it.

The Elgin Fire Department's dive team investigated using an underwater, remote-operated vehicle equipped with both camera and sonar technology.

They say they identified what appeared to be a small vehicle submerged in the water.

A diver made contact with a small tire and "prematurely" concluded that the object was likely either an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) or something similar and didn't take the investigation further.

READ MORE | Human remains found inside car belonging to Karen Schepers, missing since 1983: Kane County coroner

The Elgin Police Department had no knowledge of the dive team's activities before this week.

Elgin Fire Chief Robb Cagann said after learning of the story, he concluded that "more should have been done in 2022, including a comprehensive underwater examination of the vehicle."

Now, in the interests of full accountability, the fire department is owning up to missing the clues three years ago and said they regret it.

The fire department also said it will ensure "the circumstances surrounding this incident never happen during any dives."

They said they have updated operational protocols and technological capabilities since then.

Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley said the fire chief has apologized and that she remains "proud of the extraordinary collaborative efforts that have unfolded in recent days."

Investigators are still working to determine if the human remains found inside the vehicle this week are indeed that of Karen Schepers.