Cop takes '83 case of missing woman

April 18, 2008
The Chicago Tribune
By Carolyn Rusin

Cop takes '83 case of missing woman 23-year-old and her car just vanished; her savings account left untouched

Karen Schepers was last seen alive on April 16, 1983, when she celebrated a friend's promotion at a Carpentersville bar. She drove there alone and sometime after 1 a.m. left in her bright yellow Toyota Celica.

No one ever saw the young Elgin woman again, but 25 years after her mysterious disappearance authorities are taking a fresh look at the case.

"She went missing. Her car went missing. It's that whole thing, she vanished without a trace," said Elgin detective Brian Gorcowski, who was assigned to the cold case last fall. "I've got to go back and re-create 25 years."

Over the years, police developed few leads, but Gorcowski is taking steps that he hopes will turn that around. Earlier this week, seven billboards were placed along local interstate highways, alerting motorists about Schepers, who was 23 when she disappeared.

Gorcowski also has entered information into an international database for missing persons; authorities likewise have established a DNA profile from strands of her hair and mouth swabs taken from her mother and a brother. The profile was added to a national DNA database for missing persons.

There are also plans to use sonar technology to search local ponds and quarries.

The billboards were donated by Clear Channel with help from the state chapter of the Doe Network, which operates a database for missing persons and assists law enforcement and families with cold cases.

Barbara Lamacki of Lockport, area director of the volunteer organization, contacted police after reviewing news articles about Schepers' case.

"We're trying to get the information out to the public. For the family, the most difficult thing I hear is that they don't have answers," Lamacki said. "They don't go through the grieving process. For them, Karen is still 23 years old. They're trapped in time and that is the most heartbreaking part."

Schepers lived with her mother in Sycamore while attending Sycamore High School. Before her disappearance, she worked as a computer programmer for Visa in Elgin and liked her job, say relatives who remain haunted by the many questions. Schepers' Social Security number, credit cards and bank account were never used. Her car never turned up. Authorities couldn't nail down whether she made it back to her Elgin apartment after she left the bar, because she was not reported missing until two days later, Gorcowski said.

The case was reopened in the late 1990s when detectives with the newly formed cold case unit of the Illinois State Police offered assistance to Elgin police to follow possible leads. But nothing of significance surfaced, said Gorcowski, who added there was no evidence Schepers met with violence.

"Seven thousand dollars was left in the bank," he said. "She didn't pack any clothes. Her apartment was pretty much in order."

In coming weeks, Gorcowski plans to re-interview everyone who was questioned in the case.

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