UPDATE: 57-Year Cold Case Possibly Solved as Car with Remains Found in Mississippi River Believed to Be Roy Benn

(KNSI) — Authorities in Sartell now say they believe the vehicle found Sunday in the Mississippi River and the remains discovered inside are those of Roy Benn.

On September 25th, 1967, Benn had just finished eating breakfast at the King’s Inn Supper Club, got into his metallic blue 1963 Buick Electra, and then vanished.

Sunday, August 10th, an angler saw what he thought might have been a car in the river near County Road 1. He contacted police, and the Stearns Benton County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team went into the water and confirmed the find. Wednesday night, the dive team dislodged the intact car from decades of sediment on the river bottom and Collins Brothers Towing pulled it free. The vehicle was brought to the Sartell Police Department for processing. Investigators from Sartell Police, the Benton and Stearns County Sheriff’s Departments, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Crime Scene Team examined the vehicle and found a body inside.

According to a press release, based on the remains, items found in the car, and verification of the vehicle’s VIN, officials believe the remains are Benn’s.

The BCA says Benn was wearing a dark-colored suit, a white French-cuffed shirt, and a pair of gold and pearl cuff links. At the time of his disappearance, he was a widower and owned an apartment building and St. Cloud Gas and Appliance Service. According to his family, Benn was well off with no debts and was known to have a substantial amount of cash. Police say he may have been carrying several thousand dollars when he disappeared. Investigators say no one ever used Benn’s credit cards, wrote any checks on his bank account, or re-licensed his car anywhere. His loved ones said he was happy with his life, and they don’t believe he would have abandoned his family.

The body was taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for further investigation and possible identification.

___