Crime Alert, I'm John Lemley. Authorities in Sartel, Minnesota, say a mystery that began more than half a century ago may finally be closer to a solution.

Police now believe a car pulled from the Mississippi River, along with human remains found inside, are those of Roy Ben.

Ben was last seen September 25, 1967. After breakfast at the

Kings End Supper Club, he entered his metallic blue 1963 Buick Electra and vanished. That mystery

lingered for nearly 57 years until August 10th. That's when an angler on the Mississippi

near County Road 1 spotted what looked like a vehicle under the water and called police.

The Stearns-Benton County Sheriff's Office dive team went in, confirmed the find, and days

later freed the intact car from decades of sediment.

Collins Brothers towing brought it to the surface where it was towed to the Sartel Police Department.

Investigators from Sartel Police, the Benton and Stearns County Sheriff's Departments,

and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension combed through the vehicle. Inside, they found

remains and evidence linking the car and the body to Roy Ben. A press release says that connection

came from the remains themselves, items inside the car and the vehicle's Venn number. Officials also noted

Ben was wearing a dark suit,

a white French cuffed shirt, and golden pearl cuff links.

Back in 1967, Ben was a widower, the owner of an apartment building,

and of St. Cloud Gas and Appliance Service.

His family described him as financially secure with no debts and possibly

carrying thousands of dollars the day he disappeared. Authorities say no one ever touched his bank

accounts, credit cards, or the registration of his car in the decade since. Loved one said Ben was

happy with no reason to walk away from his life.

The remains are now with the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office for further investigation

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