Police seeking driver in Sarnia cold case

Karen Ann Caughlin (OPP)

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is making an emotional appeal for information to bring resolution to family and friends of a Sarnia teenager who have lived with her loss for nearly 44 years.

14-year-old Karen Ann Caughlin was last seen on the night of Friday, March 15th, 1974.

OPP officials say her body was discovered mid-morning the next day 22-kilometres away near the side of the then-6th Sideroad or Freer Road, now known as Plowing Match Road, between Churchill Line and Lasalle Line in Lambton County.

3D images of Caughlin’s clothes show she was likely struck by a vehicle (OPP)

At a news conference today, police confirmed their belief that Karen may not have been deliberately killed, but that her injuries are consistent with being the victim of a tragic collision with a motor vehicle.

Karen was then moved from the location where she sustained fatal injuries to where her body was ultimately discovered.

Investigators also admitted they have received more information from the public and have conducted subsequent analysis over the last three years to further the investigation into Karen’s suspicious death.

For example, lack of visibility that night due to fog and Karen’s clothing, motorists may not have seen nor expected to find someone walking close to the roadway.

“The OPP understands and sympathizes with families who have lived with the tragic loss of a loved one,” stated Detective-Inspector Chris Avery, Commander, OPP Lambton County Detachment, in a press release.

“Karen Caughlin’s family has endured this tragedy for 43 years and have missed experiencing annual gatherings, celebrations and life events that form the lives we aspire to live. We know people know what happened to Karen and strongly urge them to come forward. The family deserves the resolution we have been seeking.”

Anyone with new information on the Karen Caughlin case may call Lambton County OPP at 1-519-882-1011.

If a caller prefers to remain anonymous, they can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at https://www.tipsubmit.com/.

Background from the OPP

Karen Caughlin was a resident of the City of Sarnia, the second youngest of six children.

Photos of Karen (and family/friends) and the area where she was recovered can be found here: www.opp.ca/media/caughlin

Karen and a friend were at the Rose Gardens roller skating rink from approximately 7:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. on March 15, 1974.

During this time, Karen arranged to stay the night at another girlfriend’s house, very close to her own home on Brock Street South.

She was expected to arrive before 1 a.m.

The girls left Rose Gardens and accepted a ride with other friends.

At 12:50 a.m., the friends dropped off Karen alone at a second girlfriend’s home and drove away.

Police want to hear from or about anyone who may have discussed attending or hosting a social gathering in Petrolia after going to the Rose Gardens roller skating rink, perhaps the day before Karen was last seen alive.

The OPP also wants to hear from anyone with information about a motor vehicle collision in the Petrolia area or damage sustained by a motor vehicle, around that time.

Someone may have observed damage to a vehicle, or not noticed damage to their own vehicle at the time.

A $50,000 reward for information on Karen’s death remains in effect.

To help determine what happened to Karen Caughlin , a seven-minute, case chronology video has been viewed more than 22,600 times since 2014 and remains available on the official OPP YouTube channel.

You can watch the video, below:

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