Christine Heller Seaman, 60, of Manhattan, has been haunted for decades by the disappearance of her grandparents, Catherine and Charles Romer, who vanished in April 1980 while traveling home from Miami Beach. Now, a breakthrough discovery in a Georgia pond offers hope for closure.
The couple, from Scarsdale, New York, went missing along with their 1978 Lincoln Continental. Concerns were raised when staff at a Holiday Inn in Brunswick, Georgia, noticed their bed had not been slept in. At the time, authorities suspected foul play, partly because Catherine wore $81,000 worth of jewelry.
On Nov. 22, the Glynn County Police Department announced that a submerged Lincoln Continental had been found in a pond near Interstate 95. Inside, investigators discovered a human femur, jewelry, and a license plate matching the Romers’ initials. While the remains and vehicle are yet to be positively identified, Seaman and her family believe the couple likely died in an accident.
Speaking from Scotland, Seaman said the discovery allowed her family to reminisce during Thanksgiving, recalling the couple with joy. Catherine, her grandmother, was the “life of the party” who loved racing and travel, while Charles was a “lovely and generous man.”
Seaman vividly remembers the day her father learned of their disappearance, describing the anguish they felt. Decades later, she expressed gratitude to investigators and the Sunshine State Sonar team for their efforts in solving the mystery.
“This gave us permission to celebrate their lives without dread,” she said. “We’re in shock, but deeply grateful for the strangers who helped give us peace.”
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