A road trip meant to be a peaceful religious visit has turned into a distressing mystery, as U.S. authorities continue their urgent search for four Indian-origin senior citizens who have disappeared without a trace. The missing individuals — Asha Divan, Kishore Divan, Shailesh Divan, and Gita Divan — were last known to be on a journey from Buffalo, New York to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, traveling together in a light green Toyota Camry with a New York license plate (EKW2611).

Their last confirmed sighting was six days ago, when they were seen at a Burger King on Peach Street in Erie, Pennsylvania. The group was headed to Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold in Marshall County, West Virginia, where they had already prepaid for Tuesday night’s lodging. However, they never reached their destination.

“The Divans have not been seen since Tuesday, July 29th, at approximately 2:45 PM, when they were detected on a Pennsylvania State Trooper's License Plate Reader while traveling south on I-79. They were en route from Buffalo, NY, to the Palace of Gold on McCreary's Ridge Road in Marshall County,” read a statement shared by the Marshall County Sheriff's Department on Facebook, appealing for public assistance.

According to a report by WTRF.com, detectives confirmed that the group never checked in at their intended lodging facility in West Virginia. Surveillance footage obtained from the Burger King showed two members of the family entering the restaurant, marking the last visual confirmation of their presence. Additionally, credit card records show their last transaction was also made at that same Burger King, strengthening the assumption that this was their final stop before vanishing.

Authorities further revealed that none of the four individuals have answered their phones since Tuesday. However, cell tower data detected activity from their phones around 3:00 AM on Wednesday in the Moundsville and Wheeling areas, offering a faint and chilling clue to their last known movements.

“We have a few leads, which we and surrounding law enforcement agencies are investigating, but have not yet located the missing persons,” said Sheriff Bill Dougherty to WTOV News9.

Surveillance Images, Vehicle Photo Released to the Public

As the search intensifies, officials have released surveillance images, photographs of the missing family members, and a picture of the vehicle to the public, urging anyone with information to come forward. A missing persons report has been officially filed in Buffalo, and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office is working in collaboration with authorities in New York to widen the investigation’s reach.

To enhance the search efforts, a search-and-rescue helicopter was deployed on Friday, scouring the group’s expected travel route. Yet, despite these measures, no sign of the vehicle or the missing group has been discovered. The situation remains tense as time passes with no communication or breakthrough.

Last Confirmed Sighting: A Stop at Burger King

The disappearance has left both authorities and communities deeply unsettled. According to WTRF.com, the group was last seen stopping at a Burger King on Peach Street in Erie, Pennsylvania. CCTV footage confirms that two individuals entered the restaurant, and credit card transactions from the same location confirm their last known activity.

Traveling in their light green Toyota Camry, the family was expected to reach Moundsville for a religious retreat, but phone signals from around 3 AM Wednesday were the last indicators of their movement, with traces picked up in Moundsville and Wheeling.

A missing persons report has been filed in Buffalo, and law enforcement across state lines is actively cooperating. Detectives suspect the group may be lost and are pleading with the public: anyone who has seen the vehicle or the individuals should immediately reach out to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.

In a bid to accelerate the search, photos of the family members, the vehicle, and Burger King surveillance footage have been circulated across media outlets and online platforms.

Family Found Dead After Tragic Crash in West Virginia

What began as a missing persons search across two states has ended in heartbreaking news. The four Indian-origin senior citizens — Asha Divan, Kishore Divan, Shailesh Divan, and Gita Divan — who vanished during a road trip from Buffalo to Pittsburgh, have been found deceased after their car crashed off a steep embankment.

The discovery came after Marshall County Sheriff Mike Dougherty confirmed that the search for the missing individuals was underway. Authorities were leaving no stone unturned, following various leads and deploying both ground search teams and aerial support to comb the area. A missing persons report was filed in Buffalo, New York, while the vehicle information was promptly entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, ensuring law enforcement agencies across the country had access to it.

The Marshall County Sheriff's Office also posted an update on Facebook, stating that they were actively tracking cellphone signals in hopes of locating the missing individuals. Despite all these coordinated efforts, the outcome was tragic.

The car, a light green Toyota Camry bearing New York license plate EKW2611, was found on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025, around 9:30 PM, lying down a steep embankment near Big Wheeling Creek Road. The wrecked vehicle carried the bodies of all four missing family members. Sheriff Dougherty took to Facebook to officially confirm the devastating news of their deaths.

The details surrounding the crash — such as how or why it happened — remain unknown at this stage. “The cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed. Sheriff Dougherty said further details will be released once the investigation is complete.”

The sheriff acknowledged the emotional weight of this tragedy and expressed gratitude for the community's support during the search. “We know this is not the outcome anyone had hoped for. We are grateful for the public’s assistance during the search and will continue to work with partner agencies to determine what happened,” he added in his official statement.

The incident has not only shaken the local authorities but also left communities in both New York and West Virginia mourning the loss of four individuals whose journey, meant for spiritual retreat, ended in an unimaginable tragedy.