Police awaiting test results on body in river

southbendtribune.com ^ | 8 25 04 | JIM MEENAN

[freepatriot32]

NILES -- Sometime today, the Niles Police Department expects to announce whether the man found in the St. Joseph River on Monday in the Renault LeCar was Thomas Burns, a 28-year-old Stevensville man, who had been missing since March 1989.

If it is Burns, then the department will tap into a 3-inch-thick file filled with statements from individuals about what happened the night Burns disappeared.

"And if those statements don't match up, we will certainly take a second look at those individuals," Capt. James Merriman said Tuesday.

Merriman indicated police are far from determining if the man found in the car was a victim of foul play or went into the river accidentally.

"What's solid now is that we have a missing person," he said. "It opens up how did Mr. Burns end up in the river. If people out there are responsible, we are going to come to get them."

Merriman did say, however, the body of the male found in Burns' car could well be Burns, who disappeared 15 years ago, the Saturday night before Easter.

"I can tell you from all appearances, it appears it could be him," Merriman said. "He's up there in Grand Rapids and they have his dental records. They (officials at the Michigan State Police crime lab) will tell us (today). Let's make sure it's him."

Merriman said it was a little more than a skeleton that was found, despite the fact that the man had been in the water for 15 years.

"That certainly could help us in any ongoing investigation because everything is there," he said. "It certainly appears to have every part of him and anything that was left in the vehicle."

Merriman refused to elaborate what evidence was found in the vehicle.

The doors were locked and the windows were up in the car, Merriman said, apparently further helping preserve things.

Merriman said police dive teams from Berrien and Cass counties and the Michigan State Police had dove there over the years.

"The longer it went without finding (the car), our suspicions were that it was in a river, lake or pond," he said.

Divers would even take metal poles and poke at things, hoping to tap into a car. But nothing was found near the boat ramp off Marmont Street.

Clear water helped two Dowagiac fishermen spot the top of the car Monday

Burns' submerged vehicle was discovered by Larry Bjork and Jeff Ward of Dowagiac as they fished along the banks of the St. Joseph River early Monday afternoon.

The pair had been trolling on the river since morning when they noticed the vehicle about 10 yards from shore just north of the boat launch on Marmont Street, Ward said.

"When we went over it, the sun was directly overhead," he said. "You could see the top and the headlights. The water was real clear.

"... In years passed, I've been there and fished and we never noticed it."

Both Ward and Bjork said the lack of rain and lower river level in recent days made it easier to see below the often murky surface.

"When you're out there fishing, you can stand and look down at your waders and not see your feet," Bjork said.

If the body is indeed determined to be Burns, who was last seen March 26, 1989, at the Look N Glass Lounge -- now Aladdin's Millennium Dance Club -- on Second Street in Niles, police will know that more than a few leads they have been given over the years were completely false.

"We had reports that the car was chopped up in a chop shop," Merriman said. "And that it was smashed up and melted. The people that gave us that information were making things up."

Police said they questioned a number of people who said Burns was not drunk when he left the bar that night.

The Look N Glass was his final stop after earlier stops at bars in Mishawaka and South Bend. He made the stops after closing the Twin Branch Highlander Center Laundromat in Mishawaka, a facility he and his father, Thomas, owned.

Police had suspected robbery as it was believed Burns had up to $500 in cash on him.

His parents reported him missing three days later.

Now, 15 years later, the old wounds have reopened. Merriman said the couple was crushed at Monday's events and that Burns' siblings may release a statement today on behalf of the family.

Both Bjork and Ward said they hope the discovery will help Burns' family begin to heal, should he be identified as the man in the vehicle.

"As a parent myself, I couldn't imagine what a horrible thing that is to go through," Bjork said. "I pass along my condolences to them."

Staff writer Jim Meenan:

jmeenan@sbtinfo.com

(269) 687-7005

Staff writer Melissa West:

[freepatriot32]

Car found in river

A vehicle connected with a 15-year-old missing person case was pulled from the St. Joseph River in Niles on Monday. The car, which was discovered by fishermen, belongs to Thomas Burns of Stevensville who was last seen March 26, 1989. A body was found inside, but police have not confirmed the identity.

Tribune Graphic/JOHN STUMP

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Jeff Ward of Dowagiac points to the general area of the St. Joseph River in Niles where he and Larry Bjork of Dowagiac found a car Monday while on a fishing trip. The car belonged to Thomas Burns, a Stevensville man who disappeared 15 years ago.

Tribune Photo/SANTIAGO FLORES
Police recovered Thomas Burns' 1983 Renault LeCar from the St. Joseph River in Niles on Monday. Thomas Burns is pictured above in the car prior to his disappearance. He has been missing since 1989. A body was found in the vehicle, but police have not confirmed the identity yet.

Photo provided

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Sorry folks. I don't remember anything about this tragedy because I wasn't living in the U.S., and it was before Gore invented the internet.

[Slicksadick]

"Le Car" the frenchy piece o $hit did him in.

[Socratic]

"Sorry folks. I don't remember anything about this tragedy because I wasn't living in the U.S., and it was before Gore invented the internet."

Setting up your alibi? ;0)

[atomicpossum]

Where was Ted Kennedy about this time?

[proudpapa]

And WHY would someone want to take this car to a chop shop???

[passionfruit]

"And WHY would someone want to take this car to a chop shop???"

In California, you can turn in a tin can like that and get a 5 cent redemptiion value!

[KangarooJacqui]

Merriman said it was a little more than a skeleton that was found, despite the fact that the man had been in the water for 15 years.

What were they expecting to find? A perfectly preserved mummy? Jeez, the fact that they found the bones still (I presume) hanging together after 15 years is saying a lot. I really don't know what the word "despite" is doing in that sentence.

[Old Professer]

Barring fould play, one might think the skeleton would still be clothed, as well.

[KangarooJacqui]

Depends on what kind of fibres. I know I had a demin jacket that my mother made me throw away after 18 years... I can't see natural fibres surviving continuous immersion in water for 15 years. Nylon and other man-mades, however - who has any idea how long those last?

Good point, Prof.