Human Remains Found in Long-Submerged Car Linked to 2008 Missing Person Case in Arkansas Lake

Human remains were discovered inside a car that had been submerged in an Arkansas lake for a long time, according to authorities.  The vehicle has been connected to a missing person report from 2008, but the identity of the individual has yet to be revealed.

The discovery was made after a man reported to the Garland County Sheriff’s Office that his fishing equipment had detected what appeared to be a submerged vehicle in Lake Hamilton. On February 28, authorities used sonar technology to verify the discovery, and on Friday, divers spotted skeletal remains inside the car. However, the operation to retrieve the vehicle was postponed due to adverse water conditions until the following day.

On Saturday, the car was raised from the lake, towed to a boat ramp, and identified as a 2003 Ford Escape, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.  The vehicle has been tied to a missing person case from February 2008 that was reported to the police in Hot Springs.

Although the Arkansas Crime Lab is working to identify the body, the authorities have not yet released any information about the person found in the car.

A news article released by Fox News on March 6, 2023, greatly contributed to this report.