Latest news with #SomebodyKnowsSomething
Chicago Tribune
02-05-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin detectives provide more clues in Schepers' case, theory on what happened
Elgin police believe Karen Schepers' car went into the Fox River a mile or more from where it was recovered 41 years later, its locked emergency brake indicating she must have tried unsuccessfully to stop it from going into the murky water. The new details — and the emergence of a previously unknown witness at the bar where Schepers was last seen — are among the disclosures in the most recent episode of 'Somebody Knows Something,' the podcast launched in January by Elgin cold case police detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian. They hoped the series might help them solve the April 1983 disappearance of 23-year-old missing Elgin woman, and it did. On March 24, a daylong search of the river, done as part of the investigation and documented in the podcast, resulted in the discovery of Schepers' car. The 1980 Toyota Celica was found buried beneath debris in about 7 feet of water northwest of the Slade Avenue Park boat launch. The human remains inside were confirmed to be Schepers' a few days later. 'Finding Karen and her car was one big step in this investigation, but it was not the end of this case,' Vartanian said in the podcast. 'We answered the question, 'Where is Karen?'' Houghton said. 'But now we want to answer the question what happened to Karen Schepers?' The only thing they knew for certain was she left a bar in Carpentersville sometime after midnight after having joined coworkers there on a Friday night. Erin Waxenbaum, a forensic anthropologist from Northwestern University, was brought in to examine the skeletal and dental remains as part of the Kane County coroner's office's effort to confirm identity and a possible cause of death. 'All the experts agree there were no significant structural injuries, breaks, gunshot wounds, trauma or anything else suspicious on any of Karen's remains,' Vartanian said. However, they can't say with 100% certainty how Schepers died, he said. 'From a medical and legal standpoint, her death has been classified as undetermined,' he said. Schepers' car provided some important clues about what might have happened. A police department traffic crash reconstruction team examined the Celica and found no major dents or damage that would indicate it had been run off the road, struck a deer or encountered something that would have sent it into the water, they said. In fact, the car was in remarkably good condition for being submerged for almost 42 years, Houghton said. They had an Elgin Toyota master technician with 30 years' experience take a look at it as well. The key found in the ignition was in the 'on' position, meaning the car was running when it entered the river, Houghton said. The emergency brake had been pulled and was rusted in that position, the tech told them. New information provided by one of Schepers' coworkers also helped put the night's events into perspective, Houghton said. Jane worked with Schepers at First Chicago Bank in Elgin and was with her and other bank employees at the bar that night. Police had never interviewed her, and she wanted the two detectives to know what her experience had been. 'She was very, very near and dear to me,' Jane said in the podcast. 'She was always friendly and kind. She was just a wonderful person.' Jane remembers seeing her in the bar's vestibule talking on a pay phone. She was crying, and Jane asked if she was OK. Schepers said she was upset because her boyfriend didn't want to join her at the gathering. Later in the evening, she remembered Schepers taking part in a hula hoop contest, and they talked in the parking lot when the bar was closing, she said. 'I could tell that she was still upset. I just said to her, 'Karen, please be careful going home. Make sure you are safe,'' Jane said. Telling Schepers she would see her Monday, '(Karen) smiled and waved at me and said thank you.' She watched as Schepers got into her car alone and drove away south on Route 25. The new account painted a richer picture of what happened that night, Vartanian said. 'I have to say, this type of witness information is what we were looking for in our investigation the entire time,' he said. 'Like we always say, no tip is too small. This one was certainly a big one.' Houghton and Vartanian shared what they think happened that early morning. Schepers left the bar alone and likely drove home on Duncan Avenue, a route she often took. They don't believe she drank much because she wasn't known to be a heavy drinker, and she may have been tired having gotten up early the day before, Houghton said. Based on what they know about weather conditions that morning, it would have been cold with little illumination from the moon and the roadways were likely slick, they said. The Fox River was high because of recent heavy storms. There are several points on Duncan Avenue, near the Interstate 90 overpass and Trout Park, where she could have gone into the water, they said. Or, she could've been driving along Spring Street, a gated road open to the public in the 1980s not far from where she lived. They may never know exactly where the Celica entered the water, but it's likely the current could have carried the car a mile or a mile and a half downstream where it became lodged in a deeper part of the river, Houghton said. The fact the emergency brake was on when the car went into the river was an important clue, the detectives said. Suicide and foul play could be ruled out because of it, Houghton said. Based on the totality of the circumstances, it would seem Schepers' death 'was simply a very tragic accident,' he said. The final episode in the 'Somebody Knows Something' podcast will feature Schepers' family.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Detectives solve 42-year-old cold case through podcast
Detectives Matt Vartanian and Andrew Houghton from the Elgin, Illinois, Police Department's Cold Case Unit are shedding new light on a decadesold mystery through their podcast, 'Somebody Knows Something.' Karen Schepers, 23, vanished on April 16, 1983, after leaving a bar near Chicago. Despite a lengthy investigation, her disappearance remained unsolved — until now. Earlier this year, the department launched the podcast to generate new leads on old cases. Remarkably, just weeks after releasing Karen's story, tips began to come in. In March, divers recovered her car from a river six miles from where she was last seen — with her remains still inside. After 42 years, the mystery is no longer cold. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Illinois police who started cold case podcast find submerged remains of woman last seen nearly 42 years ago
Skeletal remains found in an Illinois river have been identified as those of a young woman who went missing more than four decades ago, in a case that prompted detectives to launch their own podcast looking for answers, officials said Thursday. Dental records confirm that remains inside a 1980 Toyota Celica, fished out of the Fox River about 40 miles northwest of Chicago, are 23-year-old Karen Schepers, Elgin police said. 'I am extremely thankful that we were able to bring Karen home to her family," Detective Matt Vartanian said. "I greatly appreciate them putting their trust in us to find Karen." Schepers was last seen at about 1 a.m. on April 16, 1983, when she left a party with co-workers at P.M. Bentley's bar in Carpentersville. The missing case had vexed detectives for decades and the department's cold case unit took a fresh look at it last year. That renewed effort included production of a podcast, "Somebody Knows Something," posing various theories about her disappearance. New research found that the nearby Fox River "had flooded and was unusually high" at that time, according to a police statement. Police and volunteers with Chaos Divers went in on March 24 and found a Celica with license plates matching Schepers' car, officials said. Those submerged wheels were fished out on March 25 and "a forensic pathologist confirmed the presence of skeletal human remains inside the vehicle," police said. Dental records proved that skeleton was Schepers, police said, though it's still unclear how or why her car ended up in the water. "I know that there will be many questions over these next few weeks, which will be addressed in time," police chief Ana Lalley said. "Right now, my hope is that the focus remains on the Schepers family and the support that we all can give to them during an unimaginable time as they process the events of this week, which have been no less than extraordinary." Detective Andrew Houghton and Vartanian both thanked Schepers' family and friends and volunteers for their help and belief that the missing woman would be found. "I know that by us reopening this case, the family was taking a chance that they could be let down, and we were very sensitive to that," Houghton said. "I also want to thank them for being open enough to allow us to do a podcast which allowed us to bring attention to Karen and her case.' This article was originally published on
USA Today
03-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
A dramatic shift in current US trade policy
A dramatic shift in current US trade policy Good morning!🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. "Get me to God's country" Take a look at Thursday's news: What to know about Trump's long-awaited tariffs U.S. stock futures pointed to a sharply lower opening on Thursday after the Trump administration announced 10% tariffs on imports from all trading partners outside Canada and Mexico, plus additional reciprocal tariffs on about 60 countries. Trump says his new tariffs will punish other countries for unfair trade practices. But some economists predict Americans will feel the pain. National Weather Service in Memphis: 'This isn't routine' The National Weather Service in Memphis, Tennessee, issued a dire warning to residents in the path of the major spring storm, urging them to prepare for major flooding and widespread travel disruptions. "This isn't routine. This is a rare, high-impact, and potentially devastating event," the statement said. The epicenter of the rain and floods is expected to be in the mid-South, forecasters said, with some of the heaviest rain is projected to fall along the Ohio River between Kentucky and Illinois. Here's where forecasters are warning of "catastrophic" flooding. More news to know now What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here. Who could buy TikTok? Saturday, April 5 is the new deadline for TikTok to be sold off or face a ban, after President Donald Trump extended the January deadline set by a 2024 law that passed with bipartisan congressional support. Lawmakers have sought to find a non-Chinese buyer for the app over national security concerns. Amazon was among the suitors that submitted a bid on Wednesday, according to Reuters and the New York Times. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency foundation Hbar and Zoop, a startup co-led by the founder of OnlyFans, jointly submitted to the White House a plan to buy the app, company representatives confirmed to USA TODAY Wednesday. Here are the other potential buyers as the clock ticks on TikTok. Your pineapple vape in the nation's highest court The Supreme Court has unanimously overturned a lower court's decision that the Food and Drug Administration incorrectly blocked companies from selling fruit and candy-flavored vaping products. The decision is a win for the FDA and for public health groups concerned about the appeal of sweet-flavored e-cigarettes to teens. But vaping companies hope they'll find a friendlier regulatory environment under President Donald Trump, who has promised to 'save' flavored vaping. But the decision did not resolve the companies' complaint that the FDA didn't consider its proposals to keep its products out of the hands of minors. Today's talkers These police started a cold case podcast. Then they found a woman's remains after 42 years. In January, the Elgin Police Department began airing its podcast, 'Somebody Knows Something,' and highlighted the case of a woman who went missing more than four decades ago. Hosts Cold Case Unit Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian spoke to friends of 23-year-old Karen Schepers, who was last seen around 1 a.m. on April 16, 1983. After weighing multiple theories, the detectives thought it'd be a good idea to search the Fox River since it's along the route she may have taken home in 1983. Investigators later found skeletal remains inside a car, which turned out to be a match for the missing woman, police said. Here's how to listen to the department's podcast. Photo of the day: I think we know that guy?! A Virginia family's cherry blossoms photoshoot in Washington D.C. didn't go as planned after a bystander walked into a frame meant only to include their two toddlers. The photobomber in question was former President Barack Obama.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Karen Schepers' family releases statement after Elgin PD, Chaos Divers find her remains
ELGIN, Ill. (WGN) — The family of Karen Schepers released a statement Wednesday in the aftermath of a major breakthrough that brought her remains home after going missing nearly 43 years ago. While the Elgin Police Department continues to work towards closure of Schepers' cold case, police said her family expressed they wanted to release a statement to the surrounding community about this case. 'We would like to thank the Elgin Police Department – especially Chief Lalley, Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian and retired Officer Mike Gough for their dedication to the Cold Case program that brought Karen back to us after so many years. 'As we each heard the news that her car was found, time stopped while we drew an audible gasp. When it started back up again, our lives took a new path that finally included the answer to 'Where is Karen?' This question has been haunting all who knew Karen for many years. She was a young, independent, accomplished trailblazer with a very bright future. She has been missed and will continue to be missed by those of us who loved her. We believe she has been watching as God's hand guided all of the events of her coming home. An incredible miracle happened through the skills, intelligence, and compassion of all involved. 'We also want to extend a special 'thank you' to the team of Chaos Divers: Jacob, Lindsay, and Mike. Their expertise enabled such a complete recovery of Karen and her personal effects that very likely could have been lost to the river if the recovery had been completed any other way. 'Thank you to the listeners of the Somebody Knows Something podcast, those who've connected with Karen's story, and everyone behind the scenes of both the investigation and recovery. Words cannot begin to convey how grateful we are to everyone involved. 'We hope for continued success on each and every cold case. Miracles do happen. 'Our family, especially our mother, Liz, is overwhelmed by the care and concern of so many thousands that have followed this case. We very much appreciate the love of friends and family and the prayers for our beloved Karen.' – The Schepers Family *The section below is excerpted from a previous story on The full length of that story can be read by clicking . Schepers and her Toyota Celica went missing around 1 a.m. on April 16, 1983, after leaving a Carpentersville bar named P.M. Bentley's in the Meadowdale Shopping Center following a night out with co-workers in the northwest suburbs. After initial leads dried up and no new information came in during the original investigation into Schepers' disappearance, her case was moved to inactive. Over the decades, new looks were taken by other law enforcement agencies as time went by. The Illinois State Police revisited Schepers' case in the late 1980s. Years later, EPD said advancements in forensic science led to another review of her case in 2010—but again—the investigation dried up. Schepers' case wasn't revisited for another 14 years. In May 2024, EPD created their Cold Case Unit and five months later, they reopened Schepers' missing person's case. It was shortly after this point EPD Chief Ana Lalley empowered detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian to launch 'Somebody Knows Something:' The Elgin Police Cold Case Podcast. Their first episode debuted on Jan. 20 of this year, hoping to renew interest and spark new leads as they documented their investigation into Schepers' decades-old disappearance case. In the podcast's introductory episode, Houghton and Vartanian laid out six theories they planned to investigate, with a search of local bodies of water being the final theory they planned to dive into as they revisited Schepers' disappearance. As their investigation progressed and podcast episodes dropped, searching local waterways became an increasingly pivotal part of their look into Schepers' case. This included research evidence the Fox River flooded and water levels in the Elgin area were unusually high around the time Schepers went missing. This gave credence to the idea Schepers' 1980 Toyota Celica may be submerged somewhere along the Fox River and led EPD to bump up a water search strategy ahead of other theories they previously planned to explore. Enter Chaos Divers. EPD partnered with the non-profit organization to search an extensive swath of the Fox River—an area from the Kimball Street Dam in Elgin, north to Williams Place in East Dundee. On March 24 near the Slade Avenue boat launch, divers were able to locate a vehicle submerged in the river with a license plate that read, 'XP8919,' which matched the license plate of Schepers' Celica. A day later, emergency crews removed the vehicle from the Fox River and transported it to the Kane County Coroner's Office for further examination. On Wednesday, March 26, KCCO confirmed there were human remains inside the car pulled from the Fox River in connection to Schepers' case. On Thursday, March 27, they confirmed the human remains inside the vehicle were identified as Schepers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
