Divers continue to search for skeletal remains left behind after car is pulled from river

With temperatures dropping and storms in the forecast, divers entered the water of the Calfkiller River again, on Dec. 9, 2021, hoping to bring to the surface items from the car of Erin Foster that was discovered the previous week submerged in the body of water that runs along Highway 84.

The car, which was determined to belong to Foster, a teen who had been missing from Sparta since April 2000, flipped over, breaking windows and reentering the water, when rescuers tried to extricate it from the muddy waters where it had sat for more than 21 years.

When the car was found by diver Jeremy Sides, the windows were rolled up, and the remains of two bodies were inside. It is believed the remains belong to Foster and her friend, Jeremy Bechtel, who were both reported missing in 2000, with their disappearance baffling investigators for the past two decades.

“We hope that we can get the rest of the evidence from the bottom of the river today,” White County Sheriff Steve Page said. “With storms moving in, it can make the river muddy and cause the current underneath the surface to carry things down river which would make it harder to put all the pieces together and give these families the closure they need.”

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, in Tennessee, and the Calera Police Department, in Alabama, were brought in to assist in the efforts to recover the rest of the evidence, which will include some skeletal remains.

“Thomas Steele really helped organize this,” Page said. “He called around and found agencies that had experienced divers who could come and assist us.”

In addition to the eight divers who were on site to take turns entering the water, setting up a search grid, and work on bringing evidence to the surface of the river, the White County Sheriff’s Office  had several deputies on site. Chris Isom, special investigator from the district attorney general’s office, was also on hand, as well as members of White County Emergency Medical Service and the medical examiner. Isom, who was a law enforcement officer with the White County Sheriff’s Office at the time of the disappearance, played an integral part in searching for the two teens.

Page said the efforts to close this case have been immense. He further stated it has been a joint effort by all of those who have been involved over the past 21 years that have made it possible to be close to giving the families the closure they have been seeking.

“If anyone wants to reach out and help these families during this time, I know they would be appreciative. This is obviously very difficult and emotional for them,” Page said. “There have been Go Fund Me accounts set up for both families that friends have created in order to help these families lay their children to rest.”

Page said that as well as thanking all of the emergency responders, the Sparta-White County Rescue Squad, and both mutual aid agencies that responded to Steele’s request for help, he wanted to thank both Pizza Hut and Dominoes for making sure that all those involved were fed and kept hydrated.

“This is a great community, and it has been an emotional week for everyone. I can’t say thank you enough to all those who have helped in any way,” Page said. “Keep the families of Erin and Jeremy in your prayers.”