Answers 40 years in the making might be just around the corner.
Police in Glynn County, Georgia, shared they’ve recovered human remains in a submerged vehicle that could be linked to a missing persons case from 1980 involving a couple, Catherine Romer and Charles Romer, who disappeared in Georgia on their way home to New York from Florida.
“The vehicle, a Lincoln Continental, was found by the Sunshine State Sonar Team from Florida,” the department wrote on its Facebook page Nov. 23. “The vehicle is similar to the description of a vehicle that Charles and Catherine Romer were believed to be driving when reported missing in April, 1980. Investigators—with the assistance of the Camden County Dive Team—found one human bone in the vehicle and the pond is being drained to see if there are additional remains.”
The department noted that at this time, there is no conclusion made to the identity of the remains.
Sunshine State Sonar, the company identified by police as having discovered the car, also shared information regarding the recovery, writing that its efforts “led to the discovery of a submerged vehicle containing two sets of skeletal remains.”
“These remains have been linked to a 44-year-old cold case,” the statement continued. “At this time, we will not be disclosing the identities of the victims or any specific details. The investigation is ongoing and active. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims' family during this difficult time.”
Charles, 73, and Catherine, 75, went missing in April of 1980 during their return home to New York from Miami Beach, per NBC Miami, after stopping in Brunswick, Georgia. According to the outlet, employees of the Holiday Inn (now the Royal Inn) reported the couple missing after their bed had not been slept in.
Found in their room, per a 1985 article from The New York Times, were glasses and a bottle of Scotch, as well as the couple’s tax returns. Though a search was held at the time of the couple’s disappearance, the car was never located.
According to NBC News, law enforcement suspected that potential foul play could have been the cause of the couple’s disappearance as Catherine had been wearing approximately $81,000 worth of jewelry.
Five years after his disappearance, Charles was declared dead in accordance with New York State law, per The New York Times. In the 1985 article, following the decision, one of Charles’ two sons Charles R. Romer Jr. declared his determination to discover what had happened to his father.
“We just don't have any leads right now at all,” he said at the time, expressing his intention to visit Georgia annually to pursue answers. “I'll never give up on it. I’ll always try to find out what happened.”
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)