The decades-long disappearance of two teenage girls in South Dakota has finally been solved with the discovery of their long-lost vehicle.
The story began on May 29, 1971, when 17-year-olds Cheryl Miller and Pamella Jackson vanished after setting out for a party in the town of Alcester. Their sudden disappearance sparked intense speculation and countless rumors about what happened to the inseparable friends.
For over 40 years, the case went cold, with no trace of the girls or their 1960 Studebaker Lark. That is, until September 23, 2013, when the submerged vehicle was finally discovered in Brule Creek, not far from the gravel pit where the girls were headed that fateful day.
Authorities say the car likely became visible only after recent flooding and drought conditions in the area. Upon examining the vehicle, they found the skeletal remains of Cheryl and Pamella, as well as some of their personal belongings – a tragic ending to a mystery that had gripped the community for decades.
“All the evidence would appear to indicate an accident,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, who noted that there was no evidence alcohol was a factor. Investigators believe the girls may have been confused by a new bridge in the area, leading to the fatal crash.
While the discovery has provided some closure, many questions remain. Authorities are still uncertain exactly how the car ended up in the creek, and whether the barbed wire and concrete found in the wreckage were dragged in with the vehicle or washed in over time.
Tragically, both sets of parents passed away before the girls were finally found, with Pamella’s father, Oscar, dying just days before the car was discovered at the age of 102. This bittersweet resolution is a heartbreaking end to a case that has haunted the community for generations.
