Missing Man's Car Found in Missouri Pond
A vehicle connected to an individual who disappeared a decade ago in central Missouri has been recovered from a pond in the same county where he was last seen, authorities confirmed. The sheriff's office described this breakthrough as a significant development in the missing person case of Donald L. Erwin, who vanished in December 2013 in Camden County, located in the Ozarks.
According to the official bulletin outlining the details of Erwin's case, he was last sighted on December 29, 2013, around 9:30 a.m. during his drive in a silver 2002 Hyundai Elantra with the Missouri license plate MK6-E3P. On a recent Saturday, law enforcement officials successfully retrieved a light-colored passenger car with a license plate matching Erwin's from a privately owned pond in an area known as Camdenton, as stated in a press release issued by the Camden County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities have made a breakthrough in the case of a missing person after a vehicle was discovered in a private pond. The vehicle has been identified as Erwin's Hyundai Elantra, and his family has been notified of the development. The sheriff's office, along with the assistance of a fire protection district dive team, was able to retrieve the car from the pond. However, it was a freelance videographer and drone pilot named James Hinkle who initially spotted the submerged car and brought it to the attention of authorities.
Hinkle had been investigating Erwin's disappearance independently and had contacted the owner of the property where the pond is located. With permission from the property owner, Hinkle conducted a thorough search of the area on foot and by kayak, eventually locating the Elantra. The entire search and discovery were documented and shared on Hinkle's YouTube channel, Echo Divers.
Erwin, who was 59 years old when he went missing, is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall with brown eyes and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a blue coat, blue jeans, and gray loafers. Notably, Erwin was missing his left leg above the knee and had a scar from his left elbow to his left wrist. The missing person bulletin for Erwin mentioned the possibility of him using crutches if found.
Authorities Continue Investigation into Elantra Recovery
Law enforcement officers, firefighters, and volunteers have been diligently investigating a case involving the recovery of an Elantra over the past decade. On Monday, investigators were processing the recovered vehicle for evidence while also searching a nearby pond and its surroundings for any potential human remains, according to the sheriff's office. The office expressed gratitude to all those who have assisted in the investigation throughout the years.
