Twelve years ago in Cheboksary, Russia, 25-year-old Ilya Zhirnov and 22-year-old Kira Cherkasova vanished without a trace—until an amateur diver recently discovered their car submerged in a river. Inside were their remains and personal belongings, with ID documents still intact.
Police believe the couple may have lost control on an icy road and accidentally driven into the river, unnoticed. While the discovery is tragic, it offers long-awaited answers and may reopen the case for further investigation.
Though it’s unclear what more will be found, the diver’s discovery reminds us that even after years, answers can surface—and that missing persons cases should never be forgotten.
