Human remains discovered in a California riverbed have been confirmed as those of a teenage girl who went missing 50 years ago.
Approximately 30 years prior, partial skeletal remains were located in a riverbed in Watsonville, California, but the individual’s identity remained unknown.
As reported by The Independent, investigators at that time were unable to identify the person, although DNA tests confirmed the remains were female.
Years later, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with Othram, a forensic laboratory, for further testing of the remains.
In a Facebook post, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office announced that the remains belonged to a 13-year-old girl from New York who had disappeared in 1975.
The sheriff’s office stated: “Laura O’Malley was reported missing in New York in August of 1975, and her family had not seen or heard from her since.
“It is not known when, or under what circumstances, Laura O’Malley arrived in California.”
The post details that in 2019, authorities revisited the case and used carbon dating to determine that the teenager was born in 1960, with her death estimated to have occurred ‘between 1977 and 1984’.
“From 2022 to 2023, our office used advanced genetic genealogy to identify potential family members,” they noted, which eventually led to a breakthrough. “Partnering with Othram, a leader in forensic DNA analysis, we were able to develop new investigative leads.”
The cause of death remains unclear as the Sheriff’s Office stated that ‘the circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation’, expressing gratitude that recent advancements provided Laura’s family with ‘long-awaited answers’.
A 1978 The New York Daily Times article, three years after Laura’s disappearance, mentioned that she had two sisters and a brother.
The newspaper also reported that she and her siblings left their Long Island home due to a reportedly difficult relationship with their stepfather, with the young girl having written a note to her mother stating she wouldn’t return if her stepfather was still present.
Her family eventually separated from the stepfather, and they believed Laura was unaware of this and would return home if she knew.
“Anyone with information related to this case is urged to call our dispatch at 831-471-1121.” the message from The Sheriff’s Office further stated.
Another historic missing person case that has been resolved is the story of Alfred Swinscoe, a father-of-six, who vanished after visiting the Miners Arms bar in Nottinghamshire, UK in January 1967.
Tragically, it was discovered by police that two suspects in his murder had passed away.
Alfred’s remains were finally uncovered in April 2023.