1967 cold case closed: Man whose body was found in submerged car died by accident

A man whose remains were recovered from the Mississippi River in Sartell this summer, 58 years after his disappearance, died by accident, authorities say.

Roy Benn was first reported missing in September 1967, having last been seen at a cafe in Sartell. The discovery of his body inside a submerged 1963 Buick Electra this August breathed new life into the decades-old cold case.

RELATED: Authorities confirm remains pulled from Mississippi River in August was man missing since 1967

An autopsy from the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office now reveals that Benn crashed the car into the river and died in the wreckage, Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said on Wednesday. No foul play is suspected, and the case is now considered closed.

“The Benton County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the agencies who assisted in the investigation of Benn’s disappearance and recovery of Benn’s vehicle and remains,” Heck said in a statement.

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