Overview

• The Kane County Coroner’s Office used dental records to confirm the skeletal remains found in the Fox River are those of Karen Schepers, missing since 1983.
• Schepers’ yellow 1980 Toyota Celica was discovered on March 24, 2025, by Chaos Divers and Elgin Police during a renewed investigation into her disappearance.
• The Elgin Fire Department located the car in 2022 but mistakenly identified it as an ATV, prompting procedural reforms after the oversight came to light.
• Schepers’ family has been notified of the discovery, providing long-awaited closure after more than four decades of uncertainty.
• Investigators continue to explore theories about how the car ended up in the river, with initial suggestions pointing to an accidental submersion near her route home.