AURORA, IN — Anthropologists with the University of Indianapolis along with Indiana State Police Investigators on Monday examined the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder that was pulled out of the Ohio River on Thursday, October 14 near Lesko Park in Aurora.
The vehicle was confirmed to have belonged to 26-year-old Stephanie Van Nguyen, who disappeared in April 2002 along with her two children, 4-year-old Kristina, and 3-year-old John. At the time, investigators with the Delhi Township Police Department (Ohio) obtained information that Nguyen had left a note prior to her disappearance that stated she would drive her vehicle into the Ohio River.
With the use of side sonar scan technology, divers with the Hamilton County, Ohio Police Association, and Indiana Conservation Officers located and recovered the vehicle last week. Indiana State Police began an investigation when the vehicle was located.
Anthropologists believe a bone recovered in the vehicle is a human bone. The bone will be sent to a lab for testing in an attempt to determine its origin.
The investigation is still going on.
(The original story published on October 15 can be found here.)
