Featured Image Credit: Fox News
Topics: US News
Anish Vij
Human remains were found underwater in a SUV belonging to a man who went missing 16 years ago in Palm Harbor.
The license plated of the Mitsubishi car belonged to Robert Helphrey, who was last seen in 2006.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, who towed the car, said they were working to identify the remains.
Helphrey was last seen leaving Peggy O’Neill’s Bar in Palm Harbor around midnight on May 22, 2006.
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The Sunshine State Sonar Search Team and Recon Dive Recovery were responsible for locating the SUV, which contained the human remains.
His car was found a pond, which is six minute drive away from the bar.
Across the road from the bar is restaurant Thirsty Marlin, where Helphrey was general manager.
Restaurant owner and best friend Brian St. Arnold said Helphrey was working the day he went missing.
"At 6.18 this morning, the home phone rings and no one ever calls the home phone anymore," St. Arnold told Fox 13.
"My wife goes to the bathroom, answers the phone, and I hear her say, ‘Oh my God. I can't believe this’.
"And I walk to her and say, ‘What has happened?’.
"And they tell me, ‘we found Bob,’ and I said, ‘Well, dear God.’ After all these years, you know, we're glad that we finally got some closure to what happened that day."
His friend believes that Helphrey might have accidentally taken a wrong turn after working late that night.
"It’s just amazing that nobody saw him that night. No one heard anything. He didn’t yell for help," St. Arnold said.
"We'll always mourn the death of Bob. He was a great guy and a loyal friend, but one of the things that does put to rest is all the conspiratorial theories of people saying, ‘hey, we think this happened or we think that happened’."
Ken Fleming with Recon Dive Recovery explained: "We start looking at the person's work address, home address, patterns of life where they like to hang out, last cell phone pings.
"That's very, very helpful.
"I found the windows closed on the passenger side and a door handle and the color of the vehicle and confirmed it was a vehicle.
"When the family member comes up and gives you a hug and it's bittersweet, you know, they’re glad you’re there. They wish you weren’t."
UNILAD has contacted Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for comment.