Two Minnesota fishermen made a remarkable discovery in the Mississippi River that could solve a decades-old mystery. They used sonar technology and stumbled upon a car, which authorities believe might be linked to a cold case from the 1960s.
Brody Loch, one of the fishermen, spotted the vehicle last weekend. Just three days later, divers confirmed the car’s presence and found human remains inside. According to Stearns County Sheriff Steve Soyka, this discovery could finally bring answers to a long-unsolved case.
Loch remarked, “It was pure luck. If my buddy hadn’t caught that walleye, we would have floated past and never found it.”
Sheriff Soyka expressed concern about the car, a 1960s Buick, fearing it might disintegrate during its retrieval. However, the vehicle surfaced surprisingly intact. Investigators matched the vehicle identification number to Roy Benn, who vanished in September 1967. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reissued a missing person bulletin when the story broke.
Benn was last seen driving a 1963 metallic blue Buick Electra. There’s been much speculation surrounding his disappearance. At the time, he was a 59-year-old businessman and had lost his wife the previous year. Records indicate he might have been carrying a large amount of cash when he went missing. Investigators have indicated that they believe the remains found in the car belong to Benn.
In the past, Benn’s family actively searched for him, with his brother collaborating with law enforcement to follow up on various leads. However, many angles led to dead ends, and Benn was declared legally dead in 1975.
Law enforcement has stated that identifying the remains will be a challenge due to the time they spent submerged. Sheriff Troy Heck underscored the importance of these findings, saying, “There’s strong indication that this is likely Roy Benn’s vehicle, and those are probably his remains.”
The bodies have been sent to a medical examiner for examination, and the sheriff’s office has reached out to Benn’s surviving family members to collect DNA samples.
This case serves as a reminder of how technology can intersect with historical mysteries, sometimes decades later. Recent advancements in sonar and underwater recovery have changed the game for solving cold cases, allowing families to finally find closure.
While the future is uncertain for further identification, this discovery has sparked renewed interest in Benn’s case on social media. Many users are expressing hope that this will lead to long-awaited answers for Benn’s family.
For further reading on cold cases and the impact of technology in law enforcement, you can visit the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension website.
