Karen Schepers' Car and Remains Recovered After 42 Years

The discovery in the Fox River resolves a decades-old mystery, as investigators work to confirm the identity of skeletal remains found in her vehicle.

Karen Schepers disappeared in 1983 after leaving a bar in Carpentersville, Illinois, and was last seen driving home to Elgin.
Her yellow Toyota Celica was located in the Fox River on March 24, 2025, by Chaos Divers, with skeletal remains found inside the vehicle.
The Kane County Coroner’s Office is conducting DNA and dental analysis to confirm the remains' identity, a process expected to take weeks.
The Elgin Fire Department had identified the car in 2022 but misclassified it as an ATV, leading to operational reforms following the oversight.
The Elgin Police Department reopened the cold case in 2025, leveraging a podcast and collaboration with Chaos Divers to achieve the breakthrough.