Human remains recovered in 1960s car pulled from Mississippi River in Sartell

Missing 1960s car pulled from Mississippi River near Sartell

Authorities say a 1960s-era car discovered by a fisherman in the Mississippi River could be linked to the disappearance of a man nearly 58 years ago in Sauk Rapids, Minn. FOX 9?s Babs Santos has the story.

SARTELL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Human remains were recovered from a car submerged in the Mississippi River that belonged to a Minnesota man missing for nearly 58 years. 

Human remains recovered

The backstory:

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office said a 1960s Buick sedan was pulled from the Mississippi River on Wednesday near Riverside Avenue in Sartell, Minn. The vehicle was first spotted by a fisherman who noticed an "anomaly" on his sonar and reported it to law enforcement. 

The car, severely deteriorated and filled with river sediment, was loaded onto a trailer and transported to the Sartell Police Department for processing. 

Inside, authorities discovered human remains. Law enforcement confirmed the vehicle’s VIN belonged to Roy Benn, who had been missing since September 1967.

Law enforcement removed a submerged car from Mississippi River believed to be linked to an unsolved 1960s case. (FOX 9)

What they're saying:

"Based on the human remains, items found in the car, and verification of the VIN number of the vehicle, the Sheriff’s Offices believe this to be Mr. Benn. The case will be turned over to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation," said the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Midwest Medical Examiner will try to positively identify the remains and determine a cause of death. 

Disappearance of Roy Benn

Dig deeper:

Roy Benn, 59, was last seen alive driving his 1963 metallic blue Buick Electra, on Sept. 25, 1967.

A Minnesota BCA bulletin says Benn was reported to have been carrying a large sum of money when he disappeared.

Neither Benn nor his car have been seen since that day.

A listing from the Charley Project, an organization dedicated to missing persons cases, states that Benn was a widower and a wealthy man known to carry a lot of cash on his person.