Investigators have discovered human remains inside the car of an Arkansas woman who went missing 23 years ago along with her young daughter.
The charity group Adventures With Purpose, dedicated to solving cold cases across the country, located Samantha Jean Hopper’s car submerged in eight feet of water, according to a statement from the Pope County Sheriff’s Office. Hopper was reported missing on September 11, 1998, and until now, her blue Ford Tempo, along with her and her daughter, Courtney Holt, had never been found.
Hopper had reportedly been en route to drop off her daughter before attending a concert in Little Rock. The team found her vehicle underwater, and human remains were discovered inside. The Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock will perform DNA testing to confirm their identities.
In a statement, the Pope County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude for the opportunity to help close this 23-year-old case, extending their condolences to the family of Samantha Hopper and Courtney Holt.
Hopper’s daughter, Dezarea, shared on a memorial website that her mother had been nine months pregnant at the time of her disappearance. She described the discovery as a “relief,” bringing long-awaited answers to the family after decades of uncertainty.