Remains Found in 1963 Buick Pulled from Mississippi River May Solve Decades-Old Minnesota Cold Case

Remains Found in the River Could Solve Decades-Old Minnesota Cold Case

Divers searching the Mississippi River in Minnesota made a significant discovery that may help solve a 58-year-old cold case. A 1963 Buick was retrieved from the water on August 13, with human remains found inside, as reported by the Stearns-Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators believe the car belongs to Roy Benn, a 59-year-old man from Sauk Rapids who went missing in 1967.

The vehicle was recovered near Riverside Avenue North in Sartell, and the car was subsequently transported to the Sartell Police Department for further examination. Confirming suspicions, authorities identified human remains within the vehicle. It has been revealed that the car’s identification number matches that of a 1963 Buick Electra registered under Roy George Benn’s name, adding weight to the investigation.

Roy Benn’s disappearance dates back to September 25, 1967, when he was last seen leaving the King’s Supper Club in Sartell. Witnesses recall him carrying a substantial amount of money and dressed in a dark suit with a French-cuffed white shirt, accessorized with gold-and-pearl cufflinks. The missing man owned both an apartment building and an appliance service business in nearby St. Cloud, depicting a financially stable individual. Reports suggest Benn may have been carrying a significant sum of money at the time of his disappearance.

The case took a turn when Benn’s metallic blue four-door 1963 Electra, bearing the Minnesota license plate number 6DU-516 and serial number 8J4036010, was found in the river. While Benn was declared legally deceased eight years after his disappearance, his loved ones have consistently refuted claims that he would willingly abandon his family. The recovered remains have been sent to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and to ascertain the cause of death.

Authorities have transferred the case to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office to conduct further investigations into the circumstances surrounding Roy Benn’s disappearance and subsequent death. The breakthrough in this cold case represents a glimmer of hope for closure for Benn’s family and the community after over five decades of uncertainty surrounding his fate.

The relentless efforts of the dive team and law enforcement have shed new light on a long-standing mystery, bringing renewed attention to the importance of solving cold cases for the families of the missing. The discovery of the 1963 Buick and the human remains within has reopened a chapter of Minnesota’s history that may finally provide answers to a family who has long awaited resolution.

As the investigation progresses and forensic analysis is conducted on the recovered remains, the community eagerly anticipates the unveiling of the truths that have remained buried for decades. The impact of this discovery reverberates through the generations connected to Roy Benn, underscoring the enduring nature of seeking justice and closure in the face of such unresolved tragedies.