Mystery remains as body of student who vanished 47 years ago found in canal
The body of a student missing for 47 years has finally been found and identified after his car was discovered in a canal – yet the mystery of his death remains.
Kyle Clinkscales, 22, disappeared on the night of January 27, 1976, after he was last seen working at a bar in LaGrange, Georgia, in the US.
The student was due to drive back to Auburn University, around 35 miles away from his hometown, in his white 1974 Ford Pinto but he never returned.
READ MORE: Mystery of college student who disappeared 45 years ago may be solved after car found
Authorities spent years looking for him and searched lakes to try and find his body and the car but he was never found, and his discovery has given some comfort to his friends and family.
However, Kyle’s dad died in 2007 and his mum died in January this year, meaning they never learnt what happened to their beloved son.
(Image: Troup County Sherff’s Office)
Friend Lauren Griffen said: “Everybody was always wondering if he was going to show up somewhere,” adding: “His personality was just charming. He was a sweet guy. Most of the time he was very quiet. But he was very kind to everyone.”
A major breakthrough came on December 7, 2021, when a passer-by spotted a white Ford Pinto in a creek in Cusseta, Alabama.
Authorities discovered human bones, a wallet, ID and credit cards in the car, and the remains were taken to Georgia Bureau of Investigation for DNA analysis, which confirmed the body belonged to Kyle.
(Image: Troup County Sherff’s Office)
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Police said in a statement: “The Troup County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Troup County Coroner’s Office that those remains were positively identified as that of Kyle Clinkscales.”
However, his death still remains a mystery with police still unsure how he died and ended up in the creek, with his parents previously being told by a caller that their son had been killed and his body dumped.
His heartbroken mum Louise said when he went missing: “It was like the earth opened… and he vanished.”
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