The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is marking the 51st anniversary of the tragic death of 14-year-old Karen Caughlin with a renewed plea for information.
Karen was last seen alive in the very early hours of Saturday, March 16, 1974. Her body was discovered the following morning on Plowing Match Road, between Churchill Line and Lasalle Line in Lambton County.
Despite the ongoing investigation and public appeals over the years, the person or persons responsible for Karen’s death have not been identified.
In 2017, new information revealed that Karen’s injuries were consistent with being struck by a motor vehicle. Investigators believe her body was moved from the location where she was hit to where her body was discovered.
The OPP Criminal Investigation Branch continues to seek information that will lead to the identification of the individual or individuals responsible for Karen Caughlin’sdeath. A $50,000 reward for information remains available.
“On behalf of Lambton County OPP, I would like to thank the public for their continued support with this investigation. Even after 51 years, information is still being received on this case. Our investigators diligently follow every tip,” Inspector Chris Avery, Commander, Lambton County OPP, said in a media release.
A seven-minute case chronology video has been viewed over 35,000 times since 2014 and remains available on the official OPP YouTube channel. Watch it, below:
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 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.
If you have any information that could assist this investigation, please contact the Lambton County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at sarnialambtoncrimestoppers.org, where you may eligible to receive a cash reward.
