On August 13, 2025, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the Stearns-Benton County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team with assistance from Collins Brother Towing was able to recover a vehicle from the Mississippi River in the area of the 300 block of Riverside Avenue North in the City of Sartell. Riverside Avenue North was closed for several hours so the recovery operation could take place.
The car appeared to be a 1960’s era Buick and was removed fairly intact from the water. The vehicle was brought to the Sartell Police Department for further investigation and processing by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension crime scene team and investigators with the Stearns and Benton County Sheriff’s Offices, and Sartell Police Department.
During the processing of the car human remains were discovered inside. Along with these human remains investigators were able to positively identify the car by its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) as that belonging to Roy Benn. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office has an open missing person’s case on Mr. Benn after he disappeared in September 1967. The human remains were transported to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for further investigation and possible identification.
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. Any inquiries into this case can be made to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office from here on out.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this recovery and investigation by the Stearns-Benton County Sheriff Office Dive Team, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Sartell Police and Fire Departments, Sartell Public Works Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Collins Brothers Towing.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-