YouTuber helps solve tragic missing person case, 16 years after woman first disappeared

A YouTuber dedicated to solving some of America's most baffling unsolved cases has managed to get to the bottom of a disappearance that has puzzled investigators for 16 years.

Jeremy Beau Sides, the guy behind the channel Exploring With Nug, has a knack for unravelling bizarre missing persons cases in the US that have remained unsolved for decades.

The scuba diver and metal detectorist, who has over 637,000 subscribers on YouTube, simply wants to help bring closure to families who have been left in the dark about what happened to their loved ones.

And he's doing a great job, as Jeremy has already managed to solve a number of incredible cases, such as the search for two high school students who disappeared in April 2000 after the case was shrouded in mystery for 21 years.

And in November 2021, he helped find out what happened to Miriam Ruth Hemphill.

The 84-year-old disappeared from Oak Ridge, Tennessee in July 2005 after leaving her home in her 1999 Buick LeSabre.

After she did not return, her husband Bill reported her missing.

However, since there was little evidence, the case was eventually closed – and the widower suspected that his wife was dead and had driven her car into a lake.

Three months before Miriam's disappearance, the couple's 44-year-old daughter, Connie Hemphill Skapik, was found dead in her car in Dayton, Ohio; her death was ruled a suicide.

Bill told police that his wife had left a note reporting the death of her daughter and that he had found a newspaper clipping in their house with an article about a person who had driven their car into a lake.

Tragically, Bill passed away in 2016 at the age of 95 without learning of Miriam's fate – which, thanks to Jeremy's hard work, was not discovered until five years later.

Jeremy Beau Sides told viewers he found two cars in Melton Hill Lake (YouTube/exploringwithnug)

In a video documenting a dive in Melton Hill Lake in the town of Oak Ridge, the content creator explained, “About two days ago, I was out here searching the river. I searched everywhere and ended up finding about six or seven cars.

“Right next to the rocks are two cars – one looks like a four-door. The other looks like a compact car, maybe a Miata, a Corvette or something like that. It could well be Miriam in one of the cars.

“If not, the cars don't belong there. We'll see if we can find the license plates, identify the car and see if there's anyone inside. If not, we'll come out, show the police what we found and see what they think.”

“There are many mysteries surrounding these cars. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of it, find out why they are in here and, if it is Miriam, finally bring her home. Because she does not belong in this river.”

And that's exactly what he did with the help of sonar technology.

Then the divers discovered that one of the vehicles matched Miriam's license plate (YouTube/exploringwithnug)

Jeremy explained that the plan was to find the cars, mark them with the magnet, and then jump on them.

He assured viewers that he would take “appropriate action” if they actually tracked down Miriam, which was all evident from the car's license plate.

Jeremy and his fellow diver headed to the wreck and was stunned when the registration matched Miriam's. He was heard saying, “It's her! Are you serious? Oh my God, it's her.”

They secured the license plate as evidence for the police, while the YouTuber then explained the condition of the car to viewers, saying that the two rear windows were rolled down and the two front windows were rolled up.

“It's filled with mud almost to the ceiling, so if she's in there, she's buried,” Jeremy said.

After emerging from the water, he alerted the authorities about the discovery, who then rushed to the scene of the accident.

Jeremy described the incident as “unbelievable.”

16 years after her disappearance, police pulled her car out of the water (YouTube/exploringwithnug)

He explained: “That wasn't the car I thought was Miriam's. Really not. I thought it was two stolen cars and we would just keep looking.”

“We can't confirm that there is anyone in the car, but we have the license plate number and know it is this type of car. So we are 99% sure it is Miriam.”

Officials then arrived with specialist divers and rescue teams who pulled the car from Melton Hill Lake.

Oak Ridge police confirmed they received a tip from private divers about the vehicle containing human remains before it was pulled from the water shortly before 8 p.m. that same day.

As Jeremy watched authorities tow Miriam's car 16 years after her disappearance, he said, “Man, that's really impressive. There she goes. Miriam Ruth Hemphill is going home.”

“Oh my God, buddy, there you have it – we solved the case. Miriam Ruth Hemphill is out of the water and will get a proper burial. I'm so happy about that…

“I didn't think one of those cars was her. But she was sitting in that one place for 16 years and then we found her and brought her home and now the family can have closure, everyone can have closure.”

“It was a truly incredible feeling. I'm so glad I was able to share it with all of you, my wonderful viewers. And this isn't the last case, I'm just getting started.”