Human remains were recently discovered inside the vehicle of Samantha Jean Hopper, a woman who disappeared 23 years ago along with her child in Arkansas. This discovery sheds new light on a case that has long haunted the community and the family of the missing woman.

According to a statement released by the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, the nonprofit group Adventures With Purpose—an organization that specializes in solving cold cases—played a pivotal role in locating Hopper’s car. The vehicle was found submerged in eight feet of water, bringing closure to a mystery that had persisted since Hopper’s disappearance in 1998.

Samantha Jean Hopper was reported missing on September 11, 1998. At the time, she had been en route to drop off her daughter, Courtney Holt, before heading to a concert in Little Rock. However, Hopper, her daughter, and the blue Ford Tempo they were traveling in vanished without a trace, leaving her loved ones in a prolonged state of grief and confusion.

For years, the whereabouts of Hopper and her daughter remained a mystery. That is, until Adventures With Purpose made the groundbreaking discovery, locating the car under eight feet of water. Investigators from the Pope County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the findings, stating that the human remains inside the vehicle will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for DNA testing to formally identify the remains.

The Sheriff’s Office issued a heartfelt statement, expressing their sorrow and support for the family. “The Pope County Sheriff’s Office would like to send our sincere condolences to the family of Samantha Hopper and Courtney Holt, and we are thankful to have been a small part of helping bring this 23-year-old case to closure,” the department wrote, acknowledging the emotional gravity of the case’s resolution.

Hopper’s daughter, Dezarea, who was just a child at the time of her mother’s disappearance, shared her feelings on a memorial page, revealing that her mother had been nine months pregnant when she went missing. Her sister, Courtney, was only two years old. Dezarea expressed a deep sense of relief after hearing about the discovery of their remains, knowing that after decades of uncertainty, her loved ones were finally found. She noted that the recovery of the bodies provided a bittersweet sense of closure.

The organization Adventures With Purpose also shared a statement regarding the discovery: “Samantha and her two babies have now been brought home.” Their dedication to solving cold cases has brought closure to numerous families across the country, and the resolution of this case stands as another testament to their tireless efforts.

The discovery of Hopper’s vehicle and remains has not only brought long-awaited answers to her family but also underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to revisit and investigate cold cases. Through the work of organizations like Adventures With Purpose, many unresolved cases, like Samantha Jean Hopper’s, are finding answers even after decades of silence.

As the investigation continues, DNA testing will offer official confirmation of the identities of the remains. But for the family, this discovery marks a significant moment of closure, ending a tragic chapter that began over two decades ago.