Remains of Man Missing for Over 50 Years Found in Submerged Car
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Authorities have confirmed that the remains found in a submerged car in the Mississippi River on August 13, 2025, have been identified as those of Roy Benn, who vanished over 50 years ago. Benn, a Minnesota man, was last seen on September 25, 1967, at a café in Sartell, at the age of 59. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office revealed that despite previous unsuccessful attempts to locate him, they continued to pursue the case over the decades.
The breakthrough in the case occurred when boaters on the Mississippi River spotted a shape on their electronics that resembled a submerged vehicle on August 10. The Stearns-Benton County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team subsequently recovered a 1963 Buick Electra, which was registered to Roy Benn. Alongside the human remains, several items belonging to Benn were also discovered, and the remains were sent to the medical examiner’s office for identification.
Medical examiners at the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified the remains as belonging to Benn through DNA analysis on Thursday, September 4. However, the cause and manner of Benn’s death are yet to be determined. Benn, who owned an apartment building and an appliance service business, was known to be financially stable and was believed to have carried a large sum of money when he disappeared.
According to reports, Benn was last seen leaving the King’s Supper Club in Sartell dressed formally and carrying a substantial amount of cash. His loved ones had maintained that he was content with his life, and authorities noted that he would not have willingly abandoned his family. Despite being declared legally dead eight years after his disappearance, the investigation into Benn’s disappearance remained active.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension shared that Benn’s disappearance had left law enforcement and his family puzzled for decades. The car’s recovery and the subsequent identification of Benn’s remains have provided closure to his loved ones after years of uncertainty and unanswered questions surrounding his fate. The case serves as a reminder of the perseverance of law enforcement in seeking answers and bringing closure to families of missing persons.
As investigations into Roy Benn’s disappearance continue and efforts are made to determine the circumstances of his death, the community remains vigilant, hoping for further clarity on this longstanding mystery. The discovery of his remains after decades sheds light on the importance of never giving up hope or efforts in solving cold cases and providing answers to families who have endured the agony of not knowing the fate of their loved ones.