What started as an effort by two detectives in Illinois to gather tips for a long-unsolved cold case ended up revealing something unexpected. Detectives Andrew Horton and Matt Valtanian kicked off their true crime podcast in October 2024, aiming to breathe new life into older cases. This initiative, as Prime Minister Anna Larry from the Elgin Police Station noted, could potentially provide closure for families by leveraging modern research techniques.
“We initially hesitated and considered whether this was right for us,” Vartanian recalled during an interview. “But then we reconsidered and thought this could indeed be a valuable method for law enforcement.” They specifically dug into cold cases in their jurisdiction, concentrating on the 1983 disappearance of 23-year-old Karen Schepers.
“Our idea was that by starting with one case—or possibly several—there might be people who know something beyond Illinois or even outside our immediate area,” Vartanian explained.
On the night of her disappearance, Schepers had celebrated with colleagues in Carpentersville, about 45 miles from Chicago, leaving the bar at around 1 a.m. on April 16, 1983. After that, neither she nor her 1980 Toyota Celica was ever seen again, according to the Elgin Police.
Over the years, many local theories circulated about what might have befallen her, but ultimately the case went cold. Efforts by the Illinois State Police to revisit the investigation in the late ’80s and again in 2010 proved unfruitful.
In an attempt to rekindle interest, Horton shared, “In 2008 and 2009, we put up a lot of signs and tried generating media buzz.” Despite previous attempts, progress remained elusive until they initiated “Someone Knows Something.”
As they began their inquiry into Schepers’ case, the detectives combined traditional investigative methods with contemporary tools. “It was very hands-on—talking to people, getting in the car, knocking on doors, and driving around to retrace her possible route home,” Vartanian described. “It’s fascinating how much has changed from then to now.” They spoke to locals who remembered Schepers to piece together her last moments before she vanished.
Examining past media reports, they discovered that the nearby Fox River was flooded around the time she disappeared.
Despite numerous leads over the years, the detectives struggled to follow up on the main clues until launching their podcast in 2024.
On March 24, 2025, the Elgin Police enlisted Chaos Divers, a nonprofit specializing in underwater recovery, to search the river. The culmination of this four-year mystery saw both Schepers and her vehicle located.
When her family heard about the recovery, they described the moment as surreal—a time-stopping gasp echoed among them. The news finally answered long-standing questions that had haunted those who knew her.
Interestingly, as Horton reflected, many people doubted she could be in the river, citing its low depths in certain areas. The reality is, there were spots that went much deeper—up to 15 feet.
With the vehicle’s recovery intact, divers were able to preserve evidence, enabling researchers to use dental records for identification.
“Finding her was something special, especially considering how long her case remained unsolved,” Horton stated. “Even if every five or ten cases lead to one positive outcome, it’s worth it for those families.” Looking ahead, they are already considering which case to explore next for the podcast’s second season.
The Shepherds family expressed hope for continued progress in cold cases, believing that miracles can happen.
