Human remains found in car submerged in Ohio River for nearly 20 years
AURORA, Ind. (WISH) — Investigators say human remains have been located in a vehicle that was submerged underwater for nearly 20 years.
The vehicle was located on Oct. 14 in the Ohio River near Aurora. Police say the vehicle’s description and license plate link the vehicle to Stephanie Van Nguyen. Van Nguyen and her children, four-year-old Kristina and three-year-old John, haven’t been seen since April 2002. Van Nguyen, 26 at the time, was last seen driving a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder.
Investigators say Van Nguyen had left a note stating her intention to drive her vehicle in the Ohio River but her vehicle was never located.
The Delhi Township Police Department, investigating the case since 2002, began looking into the case again with side sonar scan technology.
Divers were able to locate the vehicle, which was 50 feet from the surface and 300 feet from the bank of the river.
On Monday, anthropologists with the University of Indianapolis and investigators with Indiana State Police examined the vehicle. Anthropologists believe a bone discovered in the vehicle is a human bone. It will be sent to a lab for testing.
