A vehicle resembling one owned by a wealthy couple from New York, who went missing over 40 years ago, has been discovered in a pond in southern Georgia, close to the hotel where they were last seen, according to local police.
Charles Romer, a retired oil executive aged 73, and his 75-year-old wife Catherine disappeared along with their 1978 Lincoln car during the spring of 1980. The couple was returning home to Scarsdale, New York, from Miami Beach, Florida, when they checked into a Holiday Inn in Brunswick, Georgia. Concern arose among hotel staff when they noticed the couple’s bed had not been used, prompting them to report the pair as missing.
On Friday, a specialized team from Florida employing sonar technology unearthed a submerged vehicle in a pond that aligns with the description of the Romers’ car, as confirmed by Glynn County police. Additionally, human remains were discovered within the vehicle.
Currently, the pond is being drained, and the investigation is being supported by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Authorities have stated that it is too early to determine the identity of the remains found in the vehicle. Although they have not speculated about the circumstances surrounding the Romers’ disappearance, at the time of the incident, there were apprehensions regarding possible foul play. Catherine Romer was reportedly adorned with approximately $81,000 worth of jewelry when she went missing, which led to theories that their motel room may have been targeted by burglars.
Rescue diver George Baker, who has searched for the vehicle over the years, mentioned in a past interview that many investigators believed the couple had been kidnapped and murdered for Catherine’s jewelry, and that their car and bodies were hidden in the water.