Human remains found in a California river have been identified as those of a teenage girl from New York who went missing 50 years ago.
A riverbank along the Watsonville freeway yielded some bone remains nearly 30 years ago. However, the case was stopped after initial DNA testing revealed that the remains belonged to a female.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office revealed on March 25 that advanced testing had officially identified the body as Laura O’Malley, a 13-year-old girl from Queens who went missing in August 1975.
However, certain questions remain about O’Malley’s death.
“It is not known when, or under what circumstances, Laura O’Malley arrived in California,” the sheriff’s office admitted.
The resuscitation of the cold case in 2019 led to the identification of the young child through further forensic testing. The analysis, which included carbon dating, revealed that the individual was most likely born in the 1960s and died between 1977 and 1984, according to authorities.
Cutting-Edge Genetic Testing Helped Confirm the Identity of Long Missing New York Teen
Authorities revealed that they used cutting-edge DNA testing in 2022 to track down potential relatives, ultimately verifying the name of the long-missing New York girl.
“From 2022 to 2023, our office used advanced genetic genealogy to identify potential family members,” the sheriff’s office detailed. “Partnering with Othram, a leader in forensic DNA analysis, we were able to develop new investigative leads.”
Since her disappearance, O’Malley’s siblings—two sisters and a brother—have spent years searching for her. They circulated her photo throughout Manhattan, believing that was where she had originally fled.
The sheriff’s office said it was “deeply grateful” for assisting in providing “long-awaited answers to Laura’s family.”
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office also stated that the case is still open.
“The circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation,” they said. “Anyone with information related to this case is urged to call our dispatch at 831-471-1121.”
