Authorities in Missouri have made a significant breakthrough in a decade-old missing persons case after human remains, believed to belong to Army veteran Donnie Erwin, were discovered in a pond. The discovery was made by freelance videographer and drone pilot James Hinkle, who runs the YouTube channel Echo Divers dedicated to assisting with missing persons cases.

Erwin vanished in December 2013, and nearly ten years later, Hinkle located a submerged car in Camden County's pond, matching the license plate of Erwin's Hyundai Elantra. Acting on this information, detectives enlisted the help of divers and cadaver dogs to scour the area. On Sunday morning, they successfully retrieved human remains along with an artificial hip that appeared to belong to Erwin.

While forensic pathologists still need to conduct further examinations to confirm the identity of the remains, the Camden County Sheriff's Office expressed confidence that they likely belong to Donnie Erwin. The case serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of volunteers like Hinkle, who dedicates his time to finding missing individuals.

James Hinkle, who became interested in missing persons cases after a local abduction in 1991, had been using sonar technology and his drone to retrace Erwin's likely route on the day of his disappearance. After spotting the submerged vehicle, Hinkle promptly contacted the land owner to initiate a search.

Echo Divers, Hinkle's YouTube channel, chronicles his search efforts for missing veterans like Erwin. In several videos uploaded this year, Hinkle updated his followers about the progress in his search, including confirmation of a submerged car in the pond using sonar technology.

The discovery of Erwin's potential remains was relayed to his sister, Yvonne Erwin-Bowen, by the Camden County Sheriff's Office on Christmas morning. The family now awaits the official confirmation of the identity of the remains and closure after a decade of uncertainty.

This case highlights the dedication of individuals like Hinkle, who selflessly volunteer their expertise and resources to aid law enforcement and grieving families in the search for missing loved ones. The effort and commitment of these unsung heroes play a crucial role in bringing closure to families and shining a light on unsolved cases.

As the investigation continues, authorities will work to provide the Erwin family with answers and gather all necessary evidence to conclusively determine the identity of the recovered remains. The discovery of Donnie Erwin's potential remains serves as a solemn reminder of the lasting impact that volunteers and the online community can have in addressing unresolved mysteries and championing the cause of justice.