On February 19, 1976, 74-year-old Everett Hawley, a real estate broker from the Freeport, Illinois area, and his business partner, 65-year-old Clarence Owens, vanished in a case that would perplex their families and law enforcement for decades. The two men began their day with plans to attend a political rally in Pecatonica, after which they stopped at a local cafe. Later, they were seen at a farm auction near the Winnebago-Ogle county line. They were traveling in Owens' distinctive, newly painted gold 1966 Chevrolet Impala. After leaving the auction, the two men, who had an appraisal appointment to get to, seemingly disappeared without a trace. When neither man returned home, their families reported them missing the following day, sparking an investigation that would span nearly half a century.
The disappearance of Everett Hawley and Clarence Owens became one of the most baffling mysteries in the region. An intensive, multi-agency investigation was launched, but yielded no clues as to the men's whereabouts. There was never any activity in their bank accounts, nor any indication that they had left on their own accord. For years, investigators and the men's families were left with no answers. The lack of any evidence, including the complete absence of the newly painted gold Chevrolet, was mystifying. The personal toll on the families was immense; Everett's wife of 47 years, Etha, passed away just a year after his disappearance, with many relatives believing that he would have surely returned for her funeral if he had been alive. The case grew cold, haunting the original investigators long after their retirement.
Decades later, a significant breakthrough brought the long-standing mystery to a close. In March 2024, fishermen using sonar equipment on the Pecatonica River discovered a submerged vehicle. Authorities were alerted, and crews recovered a 1966 Chevrolet Impala from the riverbed, the same car Owens and Hawley had been in when they disappeared. Inside the vehicle, investigators found more than 100 skeletal remains. In September 2024, after extensive forensic analysis and DNA testing comparing the remains to the men's relatives, the Winnebago County Coroner's Office confirmed the remains were those of Everett Hawley and Clarence Owens. A forensic examination found no evidence of trauma, and while the exact cause of death remains undetermined, foul play is not suspected. The discovery and identification of the two men finally provided answers to their families, bringing a somber end to a 48-year-old case that began with a drive to a farm auction and concluded at the bottom of a river.
Last Seen: Feb 20, 1976
