Remains of Two Men Missing Since 1976 Identified in Illinois River

DNA testing confirms the identities of Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley after their car was found submerged in March.

Clarence Owens and Everett Hawley disappeared after leaving a farm auction on February 19, 1976, near the Winnebago-Ogle county line.
Their 1966 Chevrolet Impala was discovered submerged in the Pecatonica River by fishermen using sonar equipment in March 2024.
Over 100 skeletal bones were recovered from the vehicle and identified through DNA testing by the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services.
No evidence of trauma was found on the remains, and authorities do not suspect foul play in the deaths of Owens and Hawley.
The identification of the remains brings a measure of closure to the families after nearly 50 years of uncertainty.