Lambton OPP Still Trying to Solve One of the Oldest Cold Cases in the Province

Tuesday, 16 March 2021 at 13:08

By ChrisM

14 year old Karen Caughlin was killed 47 years ago after spending a night with friends at the Rose Gardens roller skating rink in Sarnia.

LAMBTON SHORES - Lambton OPP are looking for help in one of the oldest cold cases in the Province.

They are still trying to find out who murdered 14 year old Karen Caughlin of Sarnia 47 years ago. Caughlin was a teenager who was last seen alive in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 16, 1974. She had been out with friends on Friday night and her body was discovered the next morning, 22 kilometres away from the last place she had been seen alive. Karen was left near the side of what is now known as Plowing Match Road, between Churchill Line and Lasalle Line in Lambton County.

Using the latest technology, police now believe she was hit by a motor vehicle. The investigative team indicates that Karen was then moved from the location where she sustained the fatal injuries to where her body was ultimately discovered.

Karen and a friend were at the Rose Gardens roller skating rink from approximately 7:45 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on March 15, 1974. During this time, Karen arranged to stay the night at another girlfriend's house, very close to her own home on Brock Street South. She was expected to arrive before 1:00 a.m. The girls left Rose Gardens and accepted a ride with other friends. At 12:50 a.m. - on Saturday, March 16, 1974 - the friends dropped off Karen alone at a second girlfriend's home and drove away.

Police want to hear from, or about, anyone who may have discussed attending or hosting a social gathering in Petrolia after going to the Rose Gardens roller skating rink, the day before Karen was last seen alive. The OPP also wants to hear from anyone with information about a motor vehicle collision in the Petrolia area, or damage sustained by a motor vehicle around that time. Someone may have observed damage to a vehicle, or not noticed damage to their own vehicle at the time. A $50,000 reward for information on Karen's death remains in effect.