Human Remains Found In Vehicle Belonging To Man Who Disappeared 16 Years Ago

Police have found human remains underwater in an SUV belonging to a man who disappeared 16 years ago in Palm Harbor.

The license plate of the Mitsubishi car belonged to Robert Helphrey, who was last seen in 2006.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office pulled the car from the retention pond on Friday after it was located Thursday. FOX News

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, who towed the car, said they were working to identify the remains.

Police report reveals Helphrey was last seen leaving Peggy O’Neill’s Bar in Palm Harbor around midnight on May 22, 2006.

The Sunshine State Sonar Search Team and Recon Dive Recovery were responsible for locating the SUV, which contained the human remains.

His car was found in a pond, which is six minute drive away from the bar.

Across the road from the bar is the restaurant Thirsty Marlin, where Helphrey was general manager.

Robert Helphrey was last seen in May 2006 after leaving a local bar near the restaurant he worked at. FOX News

Restaurant owner and best friend Brian St. Arnold said Helphrey was working the day he went missing.

"At 6.18 this morning, the home phone rings and no one ever calls the home phone anymore," St. Arnold told Fox 13.

"My wife goes to the bathroom, answers the phone, and I hear her say, ‘Oh my God. I can't believe this.

"And I walk to her and say, ‘What has happened?’.

"And they tell me, ‘we found Bob,’ and I said, ‘Well, dear God.’ After all these years, you know, we're glad that we finally got some closure to what happened that day."

Human remains were found in the car, but they have yet to be identified as Helphrey’s, officials said. FOX News

Helphrey's friend believes he might have accidentally taken a wrong turn after he was working late that night.

St. Arnold said:

"It’s just amazing that nobody saw him that night. No one heard anything. He didn’t yell for help," 

"We'll always mourn the death of Bob. He was a great guy and a loyal friend, but one of the things that does put to rest is all the conspiratorial theories of people saying, ‘hey, we think this happened or we think that happened’."

Ken Fleming with Recon Dive Recovery explained:

"We start looking at the person's work address, home address, patterns of life where they like to hang out, last cell phone pings.

"That's very, very helpful.

"I found the windows closed on the passenger side and a door handle and the color of the vehicle and confirmed it was a vehicle.

"When the family member comes up and gives you a hug and it's bittersweet, you know, they’re glad you’re there. They wish you weren’t."