Minnesota Authorities Identify Remains Found in Submerged Car | Crime Alert 6AM 10.07.25

Summary

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Episode Summary: Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Title: Minnesota Authorities Identify Remains Found in Submerged Car | Crime Alert 6AM 10.07.25
Release Date: October 7, 2025
Host: Nancy Grace
Contributors: John Laemmle

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Overview

In this episode, Nancy Grace and contributor John Laemmle deliver a fast-paced rundown of urgent crime stories making headlines across the United States. The central focus is on the long-awaited break in the 1967 disappearance of Roy Ben in Sartel, Minnesota, as authorities identify his remains pulled from a submerged car in the Mississippi River. The episode also spotlights a record-breaking retail theft bust in California, a major burglary ring in Los Angeles, and the sentencing of a Georgia sheriff’s deputy for civil rights violations in a jailhouse beating.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minnesota’s 57-Year-Old Cold Case Breakthrough

[00:01 - 02:16]

• Authorities in Sartel, Minnesota, announce the likely closure of a half-century-old missing person’s case.
• Remains and Roy Ben’s 1963 Buick Electra were discovered underwater by an angler on August 10, leading to a forensic investigation.
• The vehicle’s VIN, items inside the car, and personal artifacts (including Ben’s signature dark suit, white French cuffed shirt, and distinctive gold and pearl cufflinks) formed the basis for the suspected identification.
• Roy Ben, a widower and local businessman, disappeared in 1967 after breakfast at the King’s Inn Supper Club. His financial affairs were untouched after his vanishing, increasing the mystery around his case.
• Ben’s remains are now being formally identified by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.

Notable Quote:

“Police now believe a car pulled from the Mississippi River along with human remains found inside are those of Roy Ben. … That mystery lingered for nearly 57 years until August 10th.”
— John Laemmle [00:10]

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2. California’s Largest Retail Theft Case

[03:17 - 04:12]

• Ventura County authorities dismantle a theft ring linked to $10 million in stolen Home Depot merchandise—the largest such case for the retailer.
• Ringleader David All orchestrated more than 600 thefts from 71 stores in one year, paying thieves cash for high-end goods that were then resold online.
• David All, his ex-wife, and brother-in-law are named in a 40-count criminal complaint and face up to 32 years if convicted.
• Recent legislative funding and policy changes enabled multi-county prosecution, which officials credit for the successful bust.

Notable Quote:

“He allegedly paid thieves in cash for high end electrical items which were then resold online—including through eBay.”
— John Laemmle [03:37]

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3. LA Burglary Ring Busted

[04:13 - 05:08]

• A joint operation by LAPD and the Sheriff’s office took down a group responsible for nearly 100 Los Angeles break-ins.
• Ten suspects now arrested, including three recently added after early-morning raids.
• Seized evidence included luxury goods, firearms, burglary tools, narcotics, fake IDs, and more.

Notable Quote:

“District Attorney Nathan Hockman vowed to pursue maximum penalties, emphasizing that close interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing proved pivotal in dismantling the network.”
— John Laemmle [05:02]

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4. Former Georgia Deputy Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation

[05:09 - 06:30]

• Ryan Beagle, 27, sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for excessive use of force against Jarrett Hobbs in 2022 at the Camden County Jail.
• Incident detailed: five deputies entered cell, with three—including Beagle—assaulting Hobbs, dragging him out of the cell, and slamming him against a wall; the beating was recorded by security cameras.
• Beagle was fired and arrested after Hobbs’s attorney released the video.
• Two other deputies face state charges; Beagle is the only one federally prosecuted thus far. Camden County settled with Hobbs to avoid a civil lawsuit.

Notable Quote:

“Federal prosecutors say security footage from that night showed Hobbs standing alone in his cell when five deputies entered. At least three, including Beagle, punched Hobbs repeatedly in the head and neck.”
— John Laemmle [05:36]

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Memorable Moments

• The emotional description of Roy Ben’s disappearance and the poignancy of finally uncovering answers for his family after almost six decades.
• The staggering scale and coordination behind the Home Depot theft ring.
• The chilling recounting of the jailhouse beating and subsequent law enforcement accountability.

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Minnesota Cold Case Solved: [00:01 - 02:16]
• California Retail Theft Ring: [03:17 - 04:12]
• Los Angeles Burglary Ring Busted: [04:13 - 05:08]
• Georgia Deputy Sentenced: [05:09 - 06:30]

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Closing

Host Nancy Grace encourages listeners to visit crimeonline.com for the latest in crime and justice news and invites them to join the daily podcast for deeper dives into unsolved cases, missing persons, and ongoing investigations.

“We do our best to find missing people, especially children, and solve unsolved homicides.”
— Nancy Grace [06:34]

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Transcript

[A]

Crime Alert. I'm John Laemmle. Authorities in Sartel, Minnesota say a mystery that began more than half a century ago may finally be closer to a solution. Police now believe a car pulled from the Mississippi river along with human remains found inside are those of Roy Ben. Ben was last seen September 25, 1967, after breakfast at the King's Inn Supper Club. He entered his metallic blue 1963 Buick Electra and vanished. That mystery lingered for nearly 57 years until August 10th. That's when an angler on the Mississippi near County Road 1 spotted what looked like a vehicle under the water and called police. The Stearns Benton County Sheriff's Office dive team went in, confirmed the find and days later freed the intact car from decades of sediment. Collins Brothers Towing brought it to the surface where it was towed to the Sartel Police Department. Investigators from Sartel Police, the Benton and Stearns County Sheriff's departments and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension combed through the vehicle. Inside, they found remains and evidence linking the car and the body to Roy Ben. A press release says that connection came from the remains themselves, items inside the car and the vehicle's VIN number. Officials also noted Ben was wearing a dark suit, a white French cuffed shirt and gold and pearl cufflinks. Back in 1967, Ben was widower, the owner of an apartment building and of St. Cloud Gas and Appliance Service. His family described him as financially secure with no debts and possibly carrying thousands of dollars. The day he disappeared, authorities say no one ever touched his bank accounts, credit cards or the registration of his car. In the decades since, loved ones said Ben was happy with no reason to walk away from his life. The remains are now with the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office for further investigation and formal identification.

[B]

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[A]

We turn to a sweeping crackdown on organized retail theft in California. Authorities in Ventura county have dismantled what they called a major theft theft ring responsible for stealing $10 million worth of merchandise from Home Depot, marking the retailer's largest theft case to date. The ringleader, David all, who owns Arya Wholesale, reportedly orchestrated more than 600 thefts across 71 Home Depot stores last year alone. He allegedly paid thieves in cash for high end electrical items which were then resold online including through eBay. The 40 count criminal complaint names all his ex wife and his brother in law. All facing prosecution if convicted, all could face up to 32 years in prison. Authorities credited recent funding and new legislation allowing multi county prosecutions for enabling the bust. Turning now to Los Angeles, a joint operation between the LAPD and the Sheriff's office has apprehended a burglary ring responsible for nearly 100 break ins through in early morning raids. Seven men aged between 22 and 47 were arrested. Three more suspects have since been added, two men already facing attempted murder charges and another who surrendered. That brings the total number of arrests to 10. Authorities seized stolen luxury items, firearms, narcotics, burglary tools and communication devices in a raid earlier this year. Investigators had also uncovered fire, fake IDs, credit cards, jewelry and additional firearms. District Attorney Nathan Hockman vowed to pursue maximum penalties, emphasizing that close interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing proved pivotal in dismantling the network. A former sheriff's deputy in Georgia has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for using excessive force against a black detainee in a jailhouse beating caught on video. 27 year old Ryan Beagle pleaded guilt guilty earlier this year to violating the civil rights of Jarrett Hobbs, who had been booked into the Camden County Jail in Woodbine near the Georgia Florida line September 3, 2022. Federal prosecutors say security footage from that night showed Hobbs standing alone in his cell when five deputies entered. At least three, including Beagle, punched Hobbs repeatedly in the head and neck. He was then dragged into the hallway and slammed against a wall. Begle was fired and arrested more than two months later after Hobbs attorney released the jail video to the public. Two other deputies involved also faced state charges of battery and violating their oaths of office. Hobbs, from Greensboro, North Carolina initially faced felony charges stemming from the incident, but prosecutors later dropped them citing insufficient evidence. Camden county later paid Hobbs an undisclosed cash settlement to avoid a civil lawsuit. So far, Beagle is the only one to face federal prosecution.

[C]

Thanks John for the latest crime and justice news go to crimeonline.com. and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children, and solve unsolved homicides with this crime alert. I'm Nancy Grace.

[A]

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