Thanks to modern forensic methods, police have been able to put a name to a homicide victim from a decades-old cold case.
Back in 1989, skeletal remains were uncovered by a construction team working near a vacant lot on Castleberry Lane in Bullhead City, Arizona.
Investigators at the time believed the victim was a teenage girl, estimated to be between 17 and 19 years old, and that she had died years earlier—potentially anywhere from two to ten years before the discovery.
With no immediate way to confirm her identity, she became known publicly as “Castleberry Kate,” a reference to the street where she was found.
Police determined the death was a homicide after finding a bullet lodged in the skull, though no suspect has been identified and the case has remained unresolved for years.
Now, however, investigators say a major development has finally revealed who “Castleberry Kate” was: Sonya Alice Langan.
Announcing the update on Facebook, Bullhead City Police Department said: “After nearly four decades, the Bullhead City Police Department has made a significant breakthrough in an unsolved homicide investigation through the use of advanced DNA genealogy testing conducted by the DNA Doe Project.
“The unidentified young woman whose remains were discovered in 1989 and known for decades as ‘Castleberry Kate’ has now been positively identified as Sonya Alice Langan.”
The department also shared additional context about how the identification was made: “In 2024, the Bullhead City Police Department was approached by the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit regarding the possibility of federal grant funding for forensic genealogy testing in the case. The grant was approved, allowing evidence from the case to be submitted to the DNA Doe Project.
“Investigative genetic genealogists were able to develop a 99% match identifying the victim as Sonya Langan in late 2025.”
Following the 99 percent genetic match, detectives contacted Sonya’s living relatives to learn more about her life and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Police say she was believed to be around 17 or 18 when she left home, and she was never formally reported missing to law enforcement.
“Detectives also learned that strained family relationships and extended periods without contact among relatives were not uncommon, leading family members to believe she had voluntarily left due to unhappiness at home,” Bullhead City Police Department went on.
“Family members fully cooperated with investigators and provided DNA samples to assist in confirming Sonya’s identity. In May 2026, Sonya Langan was positively identified as the victim in this cold case homicide investigation.”
The investigation remains active. Police say they hope the identification will help move the case forward and ultimately bring long-awaited clarity and closure to Sonya’s family.