Indiana – A bone found in a sunken vehicle from 2002 has now been positively identified as belonging to Stephanie Van Nguyen, according to the Dearborn County Coroner
“On Friday, January 7, 2022, I was contacted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Laboratory confirming that they were able to positively identify the recovered bone as that of Stephanie Van Nguyen. The fibula bone, which was recovered on October 18, 2021,” said Dearborn Coroner.
That DNA was then transferred to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Laboratory for further analyzing and where mitochondrial DNA was able to be obtained. On October 14, 2021, the 1997/ Nissan Pathfinder belonging to Stephanie Van Nguyen was recovered from the Ohio River near Lesko Park in Aurora, IN. Stephanie and her two children had been reported missing no since April 2002 when she left a note indicating she was going to commit suicide and take her children with her. Since no other remains were located within the vehicle the children will still be listed as an open missing persons case unless remains are located or the family files through the court to nave them declared legally deceased.
Once the weather improves there are plans for another dive to take pace in possibly recover remains.
“I am happy we were able to finally solve this case and closure in this almost two-decade-long search for their loved one.”
