Cold Case Car Found In 2022, Mistaken For ATV, UTV: Elgin Police, Fire

ELGIN, IL — A break in the cold case of Karen Schepers, who disappeared in 1983, may have come earlier, according to information shared late Wednesday in a joint statement from Elgin police and fire officials. Skeletal human remains were found after Schepers' car was recovered by divers from the Fox River Tuesday, but Elgin police and fire officials say the yellow 1980 Toyota Celica had been spotted by a fisherman in 2022, but divers mistook it for a utility task vehicle or an ATV.

According to a news release shared on Facebook, the Elgin Police Department said it had not been informed of the "dive team's activities" regarding this 2022 discovery until this week.

Elgin police say they recently learned a man was fishing in the Fox River in 2022 when his sonar equipment "detected an unusual object."

After the man contacted the Elgin Fire Department, the fire department sent divers to investigate the sunken object.

The EFD dive team used a remote-controlled, underwater device that had sonar and camera capabilities. Police say the remote-controlled vehicle identified a tire with a "small diameter" that "led the diver to prematurely conclude that the object in the water was likely either an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) or UTV (utility-task vehicle)."

That investigation was not pursued further.

"When this information came to my attention, I immediately met with Elgin Police Chief Lalley to discuss the incident," EFD Chief Robb Cagann said in a statement. "Upon careful review, I concluded that more should have been done in 2022, including a comprehensive underwater examination of the vehicle.”

Chief Cagann continued, "It is of vital importance to me that this information be provided to the public and more importantly, to the family of Karen Schepers, so all know that a thorough review of the incident was conducted as soon as this information came to my attention. The fire department will also ensure that the circumstances surrounding this incident never happen during any dives. Since that time, the fire department’s dive team leadership has changed, and the department has updated its operational protocols and technological capabilities to ensure the most efficient and effective dive operations."

Schepers' car was pulled from the Fox River Tuesday after sonar technology found the vehicle Monday. The discovery was a break in a 42-year-old cold surrounding the 23-year-old's disappearance on April 16, 1983.

After a group known as Chaos Divers and members of the EFD recovered the car, the Kane County Coroner's Office confirmed that "skeletal human remains" were inside the vehicle. Officials anticipate it will take "several weeks" to determine, via DNA and dental records, whether the remains are those of Schepers, according to an update from Elgin police.

Police say Chaos Divers, an "independent entity," had "no prior knowledge of this information."

Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley said she met with Fire Chief Cagann after she learned of the 2022 discovery.

"Chief Cagann offered a sincere apology on behalf of the Elgin Fire Department, acknowledging that the initial handling did not meet their established standards," Lalley said in a statement. "I appreciate the manner in which Chief Cagann has handled this incident and want to convey my appreciation for both Chief Cagann and the members of the Elgin Fire Department for the exceptional work that is done each day."

She added, "While we are disappointed by the initial oversight. I am incredibly proud of the extraordinary collaborative efforts that have unfolded in recent days. The work of the Elgin Police Department, Chaos Divers and all involved parties demonstrates our unwavering commitment to finding answers for Karen Schepers and her family. We will continue to pursue this case with the same dedication and focus that has brought us this far."