Update: The results have come in from the medical examiner: the remains that washed ashore near Sandusky a few weeks back did belong to Charles Kaplan. This only partly settles the questions hanging over the Solon resident's October disappearance — the remaining issue being what exactly happened on the boat.
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On Monday night, two boys walking along the breakwall ringing Lake Erie over in Sandusky had a “Stand by Me” moment: they stumbled upon the remains of a human skeleton, specifically, a head and chest. Besides probably instantly crowning these kids the coolest guys at day camp for the rest of the month while simultaneously introducing them to the hard truths of adulthood such as the ephemeral nature of human life, lack of meaning, human finitude in the abyss, etc., the discovery also may close the book on the case of a missing local man believed to have been killed in October.
Solon resident Charles Kaplan made the headlines on October 23 after his boat crashed into the land near Sandusky after a day of pleasure cruising. The body of Kaplan's girlfriend — 51-year-old Pamela Holstein — was found in the vessel, but the 58-year-old's remains were not located at the time. An exhaustive search from U.S. Coast Guard came up empty.
Until Monday — possibly. When Scene spoke with Sandusky Police's Sgt. Dana Newell this morning, he was quick to point out an official ID hasn't linked the body to Kaplan. But the discovery happened in the vicinity of the crash. “I was there at the crash, and the [the remains] were right at that area,” Newell told Scene. “The remains were taking to Lucas country to do a DNA test.”
Newell couldn't ballpark how long a positive match would take — hopefully soon, so the families involved can get some closure. We'll post updates as they roll in.
