Account
Dec 12, 2008
Feb 13, 2022
Karen
Schepers
64
23
67 inches
125 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
On the evening of April 15, 1983, 23-year-old Karen Schepers was in high spirits. A computer programmer at First Chicago Bank Card in Elgin, Illinois, she joined a group of colleagues to celebrate some recent promotions at P.M. Bentley's tavern in nearby Carpentersville. She arrived around 5:30 p.m. and spent the evening socializing, even participating in a hula hoop contest. At some point in the evening, she called her boyfriend, Terry Schultz, to invite him out, but he declined as he had to work early the next morning. Though reportedly upset by his decision, she didn't let it spoil her evening. As the night went on, her co-workers began to leave, and by 1:00 a.m. on April 16th, she was the last of her group remaining at the bar. It is believed she left shortly after, but what happened next remained a mystery for decades, as neither Karen nor her yellow 1980 Toyota Celica were seen again. When Karen didn't show up for work on Monday morning, her boyfriend reported her missing to the Elgin Police Department. By the time detectives were notified, she had been missing for over 48 hours. The investigation began at P.M. Bentley's, the last place she was definitively seen. Investigators interviewed her co-workers, who all stated she seemed to be in a good mood throughout the night. Initially, the theory that she may have voluntarily disappeared was considered, supported by the absence of her vehicle. However, her friends and family strongly refuted this, describing her as a responsible individual who was unlikely to abandon her life. She had recently paid off her car and had a significant amount of money in her checking account. Searches were conducted, including the use of sonar to scan nearby bodies of water, but these initial efforts yielded no clues as to her whereabouts. For nearly 42 years, Karen's case remained cold, a painful uncertainty for her loved ones. A significant breakthrough finally came in March 2025, when the Elgin Police Department's newly formed Cold Case Unit reopened her case. As part of their renewed investigation, which included a podcast titled "Somebody Knows Something," they partnered with Chaos Divers, a nonprofit organization specializing in underwater searches. Using sonar technology, the team located Karen's yellow Toyota Celica submerged in the Fox River near the Slade Avenue boat launch, less than a mile from her apartment. Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered skeletal remains. The Kane County Coroner's Office later confirmed, through the use of dental records, that the remains were those of Karen Schepers. While the discovery brought a long-awaited answer to the question of where Karen was, the investigation into the circumstances of how her car ended up in the river is ongoing. The case, which had baffled investigators for decades, stands as a testament to the persistent efforts of law enforcement and the enduring hope of a family finally able to bring their loved one to rest.
Apr 15, 1983
Carpentersville
Illinois
Kane County
Carpentersville
7095
Elgin Police Department
Elgin
Illinois
Kane County
60120
Andrew Houghton
Detective
151 Douglas Avenue, Illinois
8472892700
Local
Law Enforcement
83-04-0814
Elgin Police Department
4090
Brown
Brown
Brown
Yes
05/10/2026
