South Dakota's Oldest Cold Case Coming To An End

[tt11758]

This story is unfolding about an hour from my front door.  Yesterday morning, after more than 40 years, a car was discovered that was tied to South Dakota's oldest cold case.

http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/car-connected-to-1971-missing-girls-case-found-in-union-county/?id=153591

UNION COUNTY, SD -
South Dakota authorities are searching an area near Brule Creek following the discovery of an old car.
 
The 1960 Studebaker found in Union County is believed to be related to the Sherri Miller and Pamela Jackson missing persons case of 1971.

Miller and Jackson left Vermillion for a party at a gravel pit in May 1971, but they never made it to that location.

New information led authorities to search a farm owned by the Lykken family in 2004.

In 2007, David Lykken was indicted on murder charges in the disappearance of the 17-year-old girls.  Authorities used recordings from a jailhouse informant but the charges were later dropped when it was discovered the voice on the recordings talking about the crimes was not Lykken.

Authorities say the vehicle will be processed for forensic evidence.

Today, authorities were able to remove what was left of the car from it's resting place in the river, and recover skeletal remains.
http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/officials-find-skeletal-remains-in-union-county/?id=153657

UNION COUNTY, SD -
Officials say skeletal remains have been recovered in South Dakota's oldest cold case.
 
On May 29, 1971, Pam Jackson and Sherri Miller were on their way to an end of the school year party at a Union County gravel pit but they never made it.

On Monday, their car was discovered a half mile away in Brule Creek, right by a bridge.

Attorney General Marty Jackley, Union County Sheriff Dan Limoges and Union County State's Attorney Jerry Miller confirm that the site of the recovered vehicle in Union County has been processed and items of potential evidence have been preserved. The site has been released by law enforcement.

Items from the site will be tested and evaluated. Agencies assisting in this investigation are the Union County Sheriff's Office, Clay County Sheriff's Office, Vermillion Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Beresford Fire and Rescue, Department of Transportation, Union County Highway Maintenance, Pollman Excavation and Division of Criminal Investigation.

Hopefully the discovery of this vehicle and the skeletal remains will provide some answers for the families of these two young ladies.

[tombogan03884]

So it could have been a car accident ?

[Solus]

So it could have been a car accident ?

That sounds like a probably answer, if that bridge is on a public road and not in someone's back forty.

[tt11758]

So it could have been a car accident ?

Unless the forensic processing of the "evidence" shows bullet holes in the recovered skulls, I'd say it's a safe bet.