Illinois Woman’s Car Found in River Over 40 Years After She Disappeared During Night Out

Car belonging to woman missing for over 40 years discovered in river in Illinois

A car belonging to a woman who vanished more than four decades ago has been found in a river in Illinois. The woman, identified as Karen Schepers, disappeared on April 16, 1983, at the age of 23, as reported by the Elgin Police Department. Schepers was last seen at P.M. Bentley’s, a bar in Carpentersville, with around 20 coworkers. She left the bar around 1 a.m. local time but never returned.

After her disappearance, there was no activity on Schepers’ bank accounts or credit cards. Her yellow 1980 Toyota Celica with license plate XP8919, remained missing until recent developments. On March 24, a diver located the vehicle in the Fox River, situated northwest of the Slade Avenue boat launch, according to police reports. Efforts are ongoing to retrieve the car from the water, with authorities yet to confirm if there are any human remains inside.

Karen Schepers, a graduate of Sycamore High School, worked as a computer programmer at First Chicago Bankcard at the time of her disappearance. Although she was said to be unofficially engaged for approximately a year, she called off the engagement with her fiancé just two weeks before she went missing. Despite inviting her former fiancé to the bar on the night she disappeared, he declined the invitation. He subsequently passed a lie detector test and was not considered a suspect as of January 2025.

Interestingly, Schepers’ apartment was previously rented by Thomas Urlacher, a suspect in the 1976 disappearance of Barbara Glueckert. However, Urlacher, who passed away in 2004, was not linked to Schepers’ case. Recently, Elgin Police detectives discussed the theory of Schepers and her car being submerged in water in their Cold Case unit’s podcast. Authorities collaborated with Chaos Divers, an Illinois group, using sonar technology to explore several locations of interest before discovering the vehicle.

The Elgin Police expressed gratitude towards Chaos Divers and the public for their support in providing answers to the Schepers family after four decades of uncertainty. Individuals with any information about the case are urged to contact the department at ColdCaseTips@elginil.gov or call 1-847-289-COLD.

This discovery sheds light on a cold case that has haunted the community for years and offers hope for closure to the family and friends of Karen Schepers. The diligence of law enforcement and specialised groups like Chaos Divers showcases the importance of ongoing efforts to solve long-standing mysteries and bring peace to those affected by unresolved disappearances. Hopefully, this development will provide answers and a sense of resolution to a case that has remained unsolved for over 40 years.