Ontario Provincial Police now say Karen Lee Ann Caughlin may have been struck and killed by a vehicle 43 years ago.
The 14-year-old Sarnia girl's body was found March 16, 1974 near the side of Plowing Match Rd., between Churchill Line and Lasalle Line.
"This investigation has always been investigated as a homicide, that's how it started in early days," Detective Inspector Chris Avery told a news conference in Petrolia Thursday morning.
But, he says there have been advancements in technology since then and a review was done of the original autopsy.
"The OPP believes Karen may not have been deliberately killed," says Avery. "Her injuries are consistent with being the victim of a tragic collision with a motor vehicle. We believe that she was moved from the scene of this collision. There's injuries specifically to Karen's right side and there is damage to the clothing that she was wearing."
Avery believes the collision occurred on Oil Heritage Rd., not far from the OPP's Lambton County Detachment in Petrolia, around an area where her purse was located at the bottom of a ravine several days later.
Caughlin had been at the "Rose Garden Roller Rink" in Point Edward, and was dropped off at a girlfriend's house on Brock St. in Sarnia around midnight, but never made it inside.
Inspector Avery says they're reaching out to the public to help fill in the nine-hour gap between when Caughlin was last seen alive, and when her body was discovered in the late morning 22 km away in Enniskillen Township.
"We want to hear from, or about, anyone who may have discussed attending or hosting a social gathering in Petrolia or the surrounding area after going to the Rose Gardens Roller Skating Rink, perhaps the day before Karen was last seen alive," he says.
Avery says they also want to hear from anyone who might have information about a motor vehicle collision in the Petrolia area or a vehicle that was damaged around that time.
"This is a death investigation. It does not necessarily mean it was a murder. But, the circumstances of Karen's death are suspicious," he says. "Remembering that it is believed her injuries were caused by a motor vehicle collision and her body was moved after this collision to the location where she was found."
He says the OPP knows someone knows what happened to Karen and strongly urges them to come forward because the family deserves a resolution.
"Death investigations, like Karen Caughlin's, are particularly difficult for the loved ones left behind. This will be the 43 Christmas that Karen's family will mourn her loss," says Avery.
Caughlin was the second youngest of six children.
Her sister MaryLou Schwemler and husband Matt were at Thursday's media briefing, but did not speak.
In July, Sarnia-Lambton Crime Stoppers announced it's offering the maximum reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone responsible for the death of Karen Lee Ann Caughlin. A $50,000 reward has also been offered by the OPP.
Lambton OPP to provide an update into the 1974 death of 14-year-old Karen Lee Ann Caughlin this morning. I’m in Petrolia. pic.twitter.com/vP4tfh25wk
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) December 14, 2017
Detective Inspector Chris Avery providing detailed remarks on the investigation of the death of Karen Caughlin. #SL… https://t.co/tX2V0ACAaM
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) December 14, 2017
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