Car Found In Creek Linked To Teens Missing Since 1971

A car found in a creek was linked to two South Dakota teens. The girls have been missing for 42 years. Sherri Miller and Pamella Jackson, both age 17, vanished on May 29, 1971. Miller was driving her grandfather’s 1960 Studebaker Lark.

On Monday, a fisherman noticed a car tire sticking out of the water in Brule Creek. He immediately contacted authorities.

The officers responded to the scene and removed the car from the water. They identified the vehicle as a 1960 Studebaker Lark.

The license plate confirmed their initial suspicion. The car was registered to Miller’s grandfather. As reported by ABC News, The Miller and Jackson families were contacted immediately.

Sadly, the car was found in the creek two days after the Jackson family buried Pamella’s father. Oscar Jackson was 102.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says the vehicle and the creek are being processed for forensic evidence. He says detectives are working diligently to preserve and collect as much evidence as they can.

When asked if the vehicle contained any remains, Jackley refused to comment.

As reported by CBS News, the cold case has stumped detectives for more than 40 years. In 2004, authorities recovered clothing, a purse, newspapers clippings, photographs, and bones, from a farm in Union County. However, they have not released any information about the reason for the search or the evidence.

In 2007, convicted felon David Lykken confessed to killing the teens. At the time he was already incarcerated on unrelated charges.

Lykken was indicted based on a confession he reportedly made to fellow inmate Aloysius Black Crow. Authorities later discovered Crow’s story was a fabrication.

Crow plead guilty to two counts of perjury for making false claims. The charges against Lykken were dismissed.

Brule Creek is fed by a spring. The water is usually quite deep. However, severe drought conditions this summer reduced the water level significantly. Otherwise, the car may have never been found.

Authorities have not confirmed whether they suspect foul play, or whether any remains were found in the car or in the creek.

[Image via Wikimedia]