DUBUQUE – The case of an Iowa man missing since 1990 might be a step closer to resolution after his 1981 Mercury Zephyr automobile was found in the Mississippi River.
On October 12th, 2023 the Dubuque Police Department was notified that employees from Newt Marine Services, while conducting dredge operations in the Mississippi River near the Hawthorne Boat Ramp, located a submerged vehicle. This vehicle was pulled from the river and identified as a 1981 Mercury Zephyr. Investigators from the Dubuque Police Department were assisted by Wenzel Towing in recovering the vehicle.
During the subsequent investigation and while processing this vehicle, investigators were able to identify it as belonging to Paul Joseph Knockel who had been reported missing in Dubuque on November 25th, 1990. Knockel was 53 at the time he was reported missing by family and his case has remained open since then.
No human remains were located while investigators processed this vehicle.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact authorities.
(NIT PHOTO above of Mississippi River at Dubuque)