Investigators have found human remains inside the car of a woman who disappeared in Arkansas 23 years ago with her child.
Adventures With Purpose, a charity that works to solve cold cases around the nation, found Samantha Jean Hopper’s car in eight feet of water on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Pope County Sheriff’s Office.
The missing report for Hopper was filed on September 11, 1998.
Samantha, her daughter, and her blue Ford Tempo were never found, according to the statement. Samantha was reportedly on her way to drop off her daughter Courtney Holt before going on to a performance in Little Rock.
The automobile was discovered eight feet below the surface by the charitable organization.
The human remains in the automobile will be taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock, according to officials, so that their DNA may be examined.
The Pope County Sheriff’s Office released a statement saying, “We are grateful to have played a small part in helping to bring this 23-year-old case to closure and would like to send our sincere condolences to the family of Samantha Hopper and Courtney Holt.”
Hopper’s daughter Dezarea wrote on a memorial page that her mother was nine months pregnant when she vanished.
Dezarea’s sister was roughly two years old. Dezarea described the discovery of their bodies as a “relief.”
From humble beginnings to Hollywood fame: What does the iconic actor look like today?
Earl Holliman’s path to Hollywood is a compelling story of ambition and aspiration. At the age of 14 in 1943, he was resolute in his desire to become a movie star.
Raised in Oil City and Mooringsport, often mistakenly identified as Shreveport, he embarked on his journey to Hollywood through several stops along the way. His adventure began with a trip to visit relatives in Camden, Arkansas, followed by a bus ride to Texarkana, Texas. From there, he hitchhiked to Hollywood.
Having saved some money working as a theater usher and during the night shift at a café near Barksdale Air Force Base, Holliman had also connected with a serviceman who offered a lead on a place to stay. However, this turned out to be in El Monte, California, a significant distance from Hollywood. Looking back, Holliman acknowledges that it was a risky decision, one that wouldn’t be advisable in today’s world.
His initial foray into Hollywood didn’t pan out, prompting him to return home briefly before enlisting in the Navy. Nevertheless, his dream of becoming an actor remained alive. He eventually made his way back to Los Angeles, where he honed his craft at the Pasadena Playhouse and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Holliman’s determination paid off, leading to an impressive film career with notable roles in classics like “Giant” (1956), “Forbidden Planet”, “The Rainmaker”, and “The Sons of Katie Elder”. He also became well-known on television, especially for his work alongside Angie Dickinson in “Police Woman” and with Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward in “The Thorn Birds”.
He fondly reminisces about his early days in Hollywood, particularly his first morning in El Monte, when he wore a short-sleeved silk shirt and dark glasses while walking in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, fantasizing about being mistaken for a star. It was a moment filled with youthful dreams and innocence.
See below how Earl Holliman looks today at 96.
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