Human remains discovered in Santa Cruz County 30 years ago identified as missing NY teen
Human remains discovered 30 years ago in Santa Cruz County have been identified as belonging to a missing New York teenager using advanced DNA technology.
Found on March 22, 1995, in a riverbed off Highway 129 east of Rogge Lane in a rural part of the county, the partial skeletal remains were initially determined to be female through DNA testing, but the identity remained unknown for decades, according to a news release by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
Initially, investigators believed the remains belonged to a homestead burial and were of historical origin rather than a modern missing person's case, according to a summary by Othram, a leader in forensic DNA analysis who partnered with Santa Cruz law enforcement to make the identification.
The case was re-examined in 2019 and sent for further forensic testing, including radiocarbon dating, which determined the girl was likely born in the 1960s, with an estimated death of between 1977 and 1984, making her between 13 and 17 years old when she died.
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The case was reclassified as an active forensic investigation, according to Othram, and shifted the focus to identifying the young woman, who was determined to be between 5’1” and 5’7” in height, with brown hair and possible European ancestry. Details of the case were entered into NamUs, the only national repository for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases.
In 2022, the sheriff’s office and the California Department of Justice partnered with Othram, whose scientists were able to sequence DNA from the degraded remains, generating a comprehensive DNA profile.
Othram, which has helped solve other long-standing missing person's cases across the United States, employed their in-house forensic genetic genealogy team to use the profile to generate new investigative leads in the case.
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A follow up investigation used the leads to track down living relatives of the unknown woman who eventually confirmed her identity as Laura Ann O’Malley, according to Othram.
"Laura O’Malley was reported missing in New York in August of 1975, and her family had not seen or heard from her since," according to the sheriff's report. "It is not known when, or under what circumstances, Laura O’Malley arrived in California."
O'Malley was 13 years old when she went missing.
"We are deeply grateful for our partnership with Othram and the use of forensic advancements that have provided long-awaited answers to Laura’s family," continued the sheriff's report. "The circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation, and anyone with information related to this case is urged to call our dispatch at 831-471-1121."
The identification of O’Malley is the 57th case in California where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram, according to Othram.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: California remains found 30 years ago identified as missing NY teen
