Somebody Knows Something: Episode 9 – Chaos Divers

Release Date: April 14, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 9 of Somebody Knows Something, titled "Chaos Divers," Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian delve into the intricate collaboration with Chaos Divers, a specialized sonar search and recovery team. This episode chronicles the successful recovery of Karen Schepers' remains and her 1980 Toyota Celica after a 42-year search. The detectives provide an in-depth look at the challenges faced, the expertise brought by Chaos Divers, and the emotional journey toward bringing closure to Karen’s family.

Guests: Jacob Grubbs and Lindsey Buck of Chaos Divers

The episode features Jacob Grubbs and Lindsey Buck, key members of Chaos Divers, who played a pivotal role in solving Karen Schepers' cold case. Their unique backgrounds and unwavering dedication to search and recovery operations are highlighted, showcasing how their skills complemented the Elgin Police Department's efforts.

Background and Transition to Chaos Divers

Jacob Grubbs shares his journey from being a coal miner for twelve years to pursuing his passion for scuba diving and search and recovery operations. "From there, I found out that I was able to utilize our skills into what it is now on Chaos Divers. It is a search and recovery dive group dive team..." (03:41) Jacob explains how he and his team have successfully recovered over 20 lost loved ones since their inception.

Lindsey Buck details her transition from being the executive director of a local chamber of commerce and volunteering with a search and rescue ground team to joining Chaos Divers. She recounts, "I lost my job due to Covid back in July of 2021 and looked at Jacob and said, you know, I'm all yours if you want me to help you." (05:13) Lindsey emphasizes the personal motivations driving her commitment to the team.

The Investigation Process: Planning and Coordination

Detectives Houghton and Vartanian discuss the meticulous planning involved in the search for Karen Schepers. Initially considering five or six bodies of water, the collaboration with Chaos Divers expanded the search to approximately thirty locations, encompassing major waterways like the Fox River and smaller tributaries. Lindsey Buck elaborates on the comprehensive approach: "We wanted to knock out everything... if we search every single one of these bodies of water and we still don't find her, then we even talked about planning a second trip." (14:59)

The Dive and Discovery

The pivotal moment of the episode revolves around the actual dive conducted by Chaos Divers. Jacob Grubbs narrates the day’s events, highlighting the challenges faced during the search. "There’s a lot of debris, there’s some pipes in there... the first vehicle that we found... it looked small... And then when Mike McFerrin actually pulled a headlight out first." (17:35)

Despite initial false leads, the team’s perseverance paid off when a sonar image unmistakably revealed Karen's car submerged in the Fox River. Jacob recounts the moment of discovery: "We saw something that was different, and it wasn't supposed to be there... I said, that's a car. That is a car. It's upside down." (23:16) The subsequent recovery of the car was a monumental achievement, marking the resolution of a decades-old cold case.

Emotional and Personal Impact

The successful recovery had profound emotional effects on all involved. Lindsey Buck reflects on the significance of solving Karen's case as it was Chaos Divers' oldest case, rekindling hope for resolving other long-standing disappearances. "It's been really great to kind of... it's kind of refreshed us in a way." (25:00)

Detectives Houghton and Vartanian express their gratitude, emphasizing that without Chaos Divers' expertise, the case might not have been solved. Matt Vartanian shares, "We would not have been able to find Karen’s car without you guys. The credit goes to you guys, the expertise." (24:10) The collaborative effort not only brought Karen home but also strengthened the relationship between the police department and the recovery team.

Supporting Chaos Divers

Chaos Divers relies on community support to continue their mission. Lindsey Buck outlines how listeners can get involved: "Our primary platforms for our searches are on YouTube and Facebook... You can always contact us on chaosdivers.com... the biggest thing that we can ask people is just... follow along and support what we do and just watch the videos." (28:05) Donations through various channels like PayPal, Cash App, and Venmo are also encouraged to fund their operations, all provided at no charge to the families or law enforcement.

Conclusion

Detectives Houghton and Vartanian conclude the episode by reiterating the invaluable contribution of Chaos Divers to Karen Schepers' case and expressing their hope that other families and law enforcement agencies will seek similar collaborations. "We certainly hope that other people in law enforcement hear this... we're happy to recommend you to anybody because we had just such a great experience." (30:11)

As the episode wraps up, Chief Anna Lally reinforces the call for public assistance in cold cases, urging anyone with information to reach out to the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit.

Notable Quotes

• Chief Anna Lally (01:47): "We believe that the Elgin Police Department and our community can work together to bring closure to cold cases because we know that in these cases, somebody knows something."

• Jacob Grubbs (03:41): "Yeah, from there, I started pursuing that. And to date, now that we have brought home 20 lost loved ones since we've started."

• Detective Matt Vartanian (07:36): "I know we've had a lot of questions... why it took 42 years. We knew we wanted to be as thorough as possible... we have the right people because they care."

• Jacob Grubbs (17:54): "This is very potential... that headlight was sort of almost identical to the headlight that would be in Karen's car."

• Lindsey Buck (25:00): "Karen's case is the oldest case that we've had the honor of solving... it's given me a renewed hope that we can do this."

Get Involved

If you or anyone you know has information about Karen Schepers' case or other cold cases in Elgin, please contact the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit via email at ColdCaseTips@elginil.gov or by phone at 1-847-289-COLD. Additionally, follow Chaos Divers on YouTube and Facebook to support their ongoing efforts and stay informed about future searches.

Disclaimer: This summary is based on the podcast transcript provided and aims to inform and engage those interested in cold case investigations. All individuals discussed are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.