Bone Located in Vehicle Pulled from Ohio River Positively Identified

Investigators say the bone belonged to Stephanie Van Nguyen, who had been missing since 2002.

(Left to right): Stephanie Van Nguyen, Kristina, and John. Photos via Delhi Township Police.

(Dearborn County, Ind.) - The human bone recovered from a vehicle pulled from the Ohio River in Aurora has been positively identified. 

On Friday, the Dearborn County Coroner's Office 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 was recovered on October 18, 2021, in a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder that was pulled from the Ohio River just four days earlier. 

The vehicle belonged to Van Nguyen, who had been reported missing since April 2002 along with her two children. 

Delhi Police reopened the 20-year cold case last year. Advancements of side scan sonar technology helped lead investigators to the Ohio River near Lesko Park in Aurora, where they located Nguyen's vehicle. 

Prior to her disappearance in 2002, Nguyen left behind a note that she was going to drive into the river near then Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun. 

Since no other remains were located within the vehicle, her children, Kristina and John, will still be listed as open missing persons unless their remains are located or the family files through the court to have them declared legally deceases. 

Once the weather improves, there are plans for another dive to take place in search of any other possible remains. 

"I am happy we were able to finally give Ms. Nguyen's family some closure in this almost two-decade long search for their loved one," said Dearborn County Coroner Cameron McCreary. 

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