Today in History, 1998: Skeletal remains found in car pulled from Red River

By Kate Almquist Today at 12:01 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article Behind the story Behind the story Clarifies why and how a story was reported. The Trust Project What is this? On this day in 1998, investigators found skeletal remains believed to belong to a Fargo woman who disappeared in 1987 inside her car recovered from the Red River. Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day: ADVERTISEMENT Skeletal remains found in car pulled from Red By Jack Sullivan The Forum Police investigators found human bones in a car pulled from the Red River Friday, and think the remains are those of a Fargo woman missing since 1987. A skull, jawbone and other bones were buried in about 2 feet of mud in the battered 1978 Honda Civic, Police Lt. Jon Holman said Monday. Police first said there were no remains in the car. They found the bones after cleaning it out. See more history at Newspapers.com Nov 10, 1998 The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) Newspapers.com The car belongs to Pamela Reisdorfer, who disappeared Sept. 3, 1987. A 39-year-old mother of one, Reisdorfer left her south Fargo residence in her car, supposedly on an errand to a grocery store. But she left behind her wallet, checkbook and other belongings, and she never returned. The bones and Reisdorfer's dental records were to be sent to the North Dakota medical examiner's office in Bismarck Monday. ADVERTISEMENT Holman, who heads the Fargo Police Department's investigative division, said it could take two weeks for the medical examiner to confirm the bones are Reisdorfer's. Investigators had asked a local dive team to look for the car last week. Divers found the car with a depth sonar and dove to it Friday. The vehicle was upside down in the river, north of the south dam near 32nd Avenue South and South University Drive. The windshield and a window of the car were broken out. In light of that, and the number of years it was submerged, "it is miraculous that that many skeletal parts were found," Holman said. Investigators working the Reisdorfer case looked in the same spot 11 years ago, but no sign of the missing woman turned up. Police do not suspect foul play in the case. In 1987, police said Reisdorfer had spoken of suicide but wasn't known to have tried to kill herself prior to her disappearance. CATCH UP ON THE LATEST TODAY IN HISTORY ARTICLES Today in History, 1925: Thousands of farmers to flock to Moorhead for day of entertainment, chicken dinner 1d ago Today in History, 1984: Democrats sweep North Dakota’s statewide elections 2d ago Today in History, 1963: Moorhead high school PTA found to be mostly dormant in runup to failed bonding vote 3d ago Today in History, 1993: West Fargo opens new post office 4d ago Today in History, 2002: North Dakota farmer dies piloting beloved plane 5d ago Comments Share Share this article Behind the story Behind the story Clarifies why and how a story was reported. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags FROM THE ARCHIVES TODAY IN HISTORY By Kate Almquist Kate Almquist is the social media manager for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Forum full time starting in January 2022. Readers can reach her at [email protected]. Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Community Your memories. Our archives. The Archives Live will dig for the story. 12h ago · By Kris Hauge Lifestyle The science of monitoring our climate with guest Daryl Ritchison 1d ago · By Don Kinzler Lifestyle YWCA Cass Clay marks 120 years of protecting women in crisis 2d ago · By Tracy Briggs ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Moorhead Moorhead City Council signs off on plan to sell River View Heights 4h ago · By Ingrid Harbo Local 62-year-old Hankinson man dies in crash south of town 9h ago · By Staff reports Fargo Winter warming operations to open at Fargo Resource and Recovery Center 10h ago · By April Baumgarten West Fargo West Fargo racer says Bonneville crash ‘changed everything’ 6h ago · By Kevin Wallevand