Remains from New York Couple Found 44 Years After Disappearance

A recent discovery in Georgia has been linked back to a wealthy New York couple who went missing back in 1980.

A few weeks back, police in George said they found a car in a pond that may have belonged to the missing couple, and then, a few days later, near the same area where the vehicle was located, police said they found human remains.

Snowbirds Vanished in 1980

Police say that in April 1980, Charles, 74, and Catharine Romer, 76, from Westchester County, New York, went missing while on their way back to New York after spending their winter in Florida.

According to the New York Post, the "snowbirds" have made that trip yearly since they were married in the mid-1970s.

On the day they disappeared, the couple left their items at a hotel and then went for a drive; sadly, they were never heard from again.

Vehicle Discovered Matches Couple's Car

According to a report in the New York Post, Glynn County police said that on Friday, they found a car that matched the description of the 1979 Lincoln Continental used by Charles and Catharine in a pond between an interstate and the hotel the pair checked into shortly before disappearing on April 8, 1980.

Sources say that at the time, the couple's disappearance sparked one of the most extensive searches ever in southern Georgia.

The wealthy couple may have been the victims of a botched robbery because Catharine Romer was reportedly wearing $80,000 worth of jewelry and was worth about $1 million at the time, according to the New York Post.

Human Remains Found Near Vehicle

According to a Camden County Sheriff's Office post, the vehicle retrieved from the pond matched the Romer's vehicle, and divers say they uncovered a human bone.

In a public statement, the CCSHO said, "Our dive team was proud to assist in the recovery efforts, which uncovered one human bone. Glynn County authorities, (using) specialized equipment, are continuing to drain the pond and conduct a thorough investigation."

It turns out that the remains were those of the married couple.

The Family Confirms the Identity of the Remains

Late last week, just a day after Thanksgiving, the Romer family said they were thankful for the work done by first responders to conclude this very emotional case.

"We are deeply saddened and equally relieved that our grandparents Charles and Catherine Romer's 44-year mystery disappearance has been solved. While this discovery brings closure, it still has been very emotional," adding that this turn of events allows Charles and Catharine to be laid to rest finally.