A 1975 Chevrolet Camaro, discovered in Jack’s Creek in Washington, North Carolina, is expected to resolve a cold case from over 40 years ago.
Three local men, William Clifton, 30, David McMicken, 24, and Michael Norman, 32, were reported missing after a night out in Chocowinity, North Carolina, back in December 1982. The vehicle they were last seen in was similar in description to the now-recovered Camaro.
The finding of the vehicle was made possible by Jason Souhrada, a resident of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Souhrada, who used advanced sonar technology, invested his efforts in solving the case in hopes of providing some comfort to the families of the missing men.
By using a boogie board equipped with sonar to navigate hard-to-reach areas of the creek, Souhrada identified what appeared to be an underwater vehicle. This discovery prompted local law enforcement, including the Washington Police, Sidney Dive Team, Highway Patrol, and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, to focus their efforts on the creek section intersecting N. Harvey and E. 5th Streets.
The vehicle was found 12 to 15 feet underwater in a deteriorated state, indicating it had likely been submerged since the time of the men’s disappearance.
An intricate recovery operation began on Friday, February 9, 2024, involving a dive team and a wrecker service. By mid-morning, divers had located the car, but it took nearly two days of work to extricate it from the water.
The proper identification of the car’s VIN number officially connected the vehicle to the decades-old cold case. A forensic anthropologist confirmed the recovery of human remains, signifying a major development in the search for the missing men.
Authorities are now conducting DNA testing on the remains to verify their identities. The North Carolina Office of the State Medical Examiner has also confirmed their human origin. Washington Police Chief Phil L. Rollinson expressed confidence that the remains are those of Clifton, McMicken, and Norman, based on the vehicle’s identification and forensic evidence.
The discovery has stirred up emotions among the families involved, providing a sense of closure. At their home, Lea Rose, the daughter of Bill Clifton, and her mother, Wilda Carver, were seen reminiscing about the times spent with Clifton while looking through family photographs.
Lea Rose remembers the night her father disappeared. “After seeing Santa Claus and viewing the Christmas lights, my family returned home. My dad left to meet his friends and never returned,” she recalled.
David McMicken’s daughter, Kayla Melendres, shared her feelings about being at the recovery site. “Being near the recovered car brought on a surge of emotions, and that’s when it truly hit me,” she said.
The resolution of this case has been a joint effort, with 26 local and state agencies participating in the recovery. The determination of the community to seek answers reflects a consistent desire for closure and justice in missing persons cases.
As the investigation progresses and DNA results are expected to confirm the identities of the remains, the families of Clifton, McMicken, and Norman eagerly anticipate the final piece of this long-standing puzzle.
