Missing Man's Car Found After 13 Years

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Missing Man's Car Found After 13 Years

Heath Styer Photo Courtesy: The Doe Network

By Dawn Crawley

Story Created: Jul 17, 2008 at 6:27 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 18, 2008 at 5:54 PM CDT

A thirteen-year mystery is closer to being solved in Huron.  Heath Styer was last seen driving east of Huron in June of 1995.  Today authorities found his car in Lake Ravine in northeast Huron.

Officers using a new type of sonar radar found Heath's car in twelve feet of water.  They quickly began a recovery effort.  Divers and law enforcement pulled the car out this morning.

Tire tracks and a flower memorial mark where Heath Styer's car was pulled out of Lake Ravine.

Heath disappeared thirteen years ago after having a fight with his girlfriend.  Investigators spent hours on the lake blocking off roads and other areas in hopes of finding out how Heath's car ended up in the lake.

Neighbors were interested in what was going on at the lake.  Donna Alter says "I saw some police cars go by but I didn't think much of it and then as the morning progressed I heard more and more about it. Then I walked down to the corner and all I could see was people standing down there."

Investigators say Lake Ravine may hold more information about Heath Styer.  Friends and family told me they are thankful for some answers after thirteen years of waiting.

Investigators have not said if Heath was in the car.  The Chief of Police says the car is covered in mud and silt and they are still investigating.

 

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Sunday, Jul 27 at 3:21 PM Josh wrote ...

To the man who said:“I also know that they didn't do their job at the time. Trust me I know this for a fact!" Please, since you seem to know everything, delineate the facts for me. A few things I do know: 1.Draining the lake-it has never been "drained" more than a few feet(far from the 12 feet deep where the car sat) 2.New technology-HPD used what was available at the time 3.Conspericy-Never was, accidents-while still very aweful-happen all the time 4.Big boys-can at least use real names

Saturday, Jul 26 at 6:55 PM Anonymous wrote ...

We love and have really missed u heath!!<3...

Friday, Jul 25 at 8:56 PM To anonymous 7:47PM wrote ...

You have no idea what you are talking about, the family has for yrs been in contact with law officials trying to get them to help. I know they didn't do their job then. Don't talk about what you don't know anything about. as for "breaking news" why would you post that on here, do you think the family doesn't read this? Wow if that isn't called cranial rectal disfunction I don't know what is!

Friday, Jul 25 at 7:47 PM Anonymous wrote ...

and how do you know this for a fact? The police did everything they could have 13 years ago including sendind a diver into the lake on 2 seperate occasions. With the new technology available now and the DCI cold case unit getting this case last March the DCI did an incredible job. The family did not contact anyone, the DCI contacted them. Read the paper and quit bashing the police. They are only human as we all are.

Friday, Jul 25 at 7:11 PM wes wrote ...

I very personally moved as far away from huron as I could. Just because of the situations that I have experienced there, and obviously knowing how "great the police department protects & serves you" I advise anyone still living there to move. Still after all this there is still nothing but gossip and lies spread about him and his name. Miss you Heath. BFF

Friday, Jul 25 at 10:05 AM So not true. wrote ...

T0 3:54 PM Breaking News in Huron. And everyone else. This statement is SO not true. Where do you get your information!!! Obiviously not a reliable sourse.

Friday, Jul 25 at 7:51 AM Anonymous wrote ...

They have not searched the car. Read the Daily Plainsmen 7/25/2008. No skull has been found. Quit with the lies.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 10:25 PM in response to annon wrote ...

So not what happened, you are trying to add to the problem. I am not defending the police in this community, but I will say that the police officer was dropping off an elderly man that couldn't get out of the car fast enough for him to catch up to Heath. So as for lights making him miss the curve....so not true. They just didn't want to waste the man power. I also know that they didn't do their job at the time. Trust me I know this for a fact!

Thursday, Jul 24 at 6:01 PM Annon----- wrote ...

I believe Heath's missing person's report states that he was last seen that morning, in his car speeding by a police officer. The lake is not that deep, and the car was found in the general area where his mother thought it was all the time. Maybe the police officer turner on his lights and starteled Heath--causing him to miss the road??? Maybe the police didn't want to find the car!!@!! Just thinking!!!!

Thursday, Jul 24 at 4:24 PM hey read up wrote ...

What if we don't get the argus? Not all of us are from Sioux Falls you know. We get the news from KSFY. Little birdi didnt say they found the body. He was asking a question about if..... Learn to read before posting stupid comments like that!

Thursday, Jul 24 at 4:00 PM to fri jul 18 little birdie wrote ...

Please know what you are saying before you start writing. Who should be happy they looked 13 yrs later, the only reason they looked is because Cheryl(his mother) NEVER gave up looking. Please don't put dumb comments about if he, you for one have no idea what you are talking about!

Thursday, Jul 24 at 3:57 PM simmer down wrote ...

Holy!!! Why? Someone asked a simple question about later arrangements about him, things change everyday and it doesn't always hit the papers. To politely answer little birdie..they have no information for anyone at this time. As wonderful as the family is, they know there are a lot of people that want a chance to pay their respects, just keep checking the papers, and news. It will come out sooner or later. Sorry I know it wasn't what you were looking for, but it's something.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 3:54 PM Breaking News in Huron wrote ...

Styers family got a call late afternoon and went to the police station with dental records.. there was a skull found in styers vehicle.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 9:31 AM To Read Up wrote ...

Hey Read Up why don't you read little birdie's comment that said "IF" a body is found. Practice what you preach.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 8:16 AM Read Up wrote ...

Dear little birdie, Why don't you read the articles on this and know that a body has not been found and quit posting such stupid stuff. They are drying out the car as stated in the Argus Leader.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 7:53 AM Anonymous wrote ...

It is in the Argus Leader that they are letting the car dry out to find any kind of remains.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 5:58 AM little birdie wrote ...

If Heath was in the car, will the family have some kinda of service for him? I think that there are alot of people that would like to say good-bye after he was missing for so long.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:48 AM Dear John wrote ...

You bet theres chips on shoulders around here. Get something stolen from you let alone have a child missing and Hurons finest do nothing. They did not solve this case for everyones information. So don't give them any credit.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 8:53 PM John wrote ...

Why all the blame on police here? They checked the lake with what they had available at the time. They used a new tool,a new type of sonar radar this time. Seems like lots of chips on shoulders when it comes to anything to do with police on these forums.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 5:30 PM Tamara Derksen-Styer wrote ...

W.O.W. Here I was hoping that people could use this tragedy to come together, not to pick fights and make nasty comments. heath was a good human being and deserves better. thanks to those sending their thoughts and prayers. a huge thanks to those that helped locate the car. to the others that have only negative things to say: stop the trash talking. please and thank you.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 2:17 PM Betty Blue wrote ...

Obviously the police did a terrible job for the past 13 years and finally owned up to their mistakes and spent the cash to get the job done. I am a resident or Huron and am embarrassed and scared about the quality of law enforcement we have around here. These guys are lazy, incompetent, and downright dangerous.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 1:29 AM Johnny wrote ...

I for one beleive the Police did a terrible job and should be ashamed of themselves.

Monday, Jul 21 at 11:23 AM Long Time Huronite wrote ...

Dear little birdie, I for one am glad that this case has an ending, but the fact remains that the Huron Police did a terrible job on this. They should have asked for expert help years ago.

Monday, Jul 21 at 10:51 AM B.B. wrote ...

Dont get me wrong but how can the family have closure if all they found was the car? Didnt think the police said if he was in the vehicle or not?

Monday, Jul 21 at 12:08 AM Lar wrote ...

Vote yes on abortion.

Saturday, Jul 19 at 5:30 PM wondering wrote ...

where did all the comments go on this ??

Saturday, Jul 19 at 11:41 AM somone who once knew him wrote ...

Have thought of you often over the years. Heath you were truely one of the good guys back when i knew you. Rest now knowing that your family never gave up. You have been missed by so many over the years and will never be forgotten by those who knew you even ones like myself whose life you only briefly touched. Prayers to your family and friends.

Friday, Jul 18 at 2:03 PM move on wrote ...

was glad they finally could put closer on the Styer case and especially glad for his mom so she now knows where he is and put a closer to this nightmare. What good is it doing anyone to put blame on anyone. Its over and its time to move on. People need to get all the facts before blaming the police in Huron. After all most of the original police at that time aren't even there anymore and besides they did check the lake. You go down and see how easy it is to find anything. So let it go.

Friday, Jul 18 at 12:54 PM a little birdie wrote ...

finally some closer for the family, but all the comments that are negective toward the huron police; come on ppl. the pd has followed up and every lead possible. If the family is the one critising the police, they should be asshamed. Technology changed and they found the vehicle; thank gawd. They should be happy the police was still are checking the lake 13 yrs after. Remember if "he" drove it off the road into the lake that was his decission, the police didnt make him do it.

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