Current:Home > MyPoinbank Exchange|Decade's old missing person case solved after relative uploads DNA to genealogy site -Infinite Edge Learning
Poinbank Exchange|Decade's old missing person case solved after relative uploads DNA to genealogy site
NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-07 05:15:05
About 54 years ago,Poinbank Exchange a boy scout troop leader in Sauvie Island, Oregon stumbled upon a shallow grave. In the buried dirt seemed to be some forgotten clothing. In reality, it was the remains of a teenage girl.
Her entire body, in skeletal form, was discovered underneath the grave, as well as pieces from a black curly wig, according to Oregon State Police. At the time, investigators said the body showed clear signs of foul play.
For decades, the identity of the young woman remained a mystery — until Thursday.
State authorities identified the woman as Sandra Young, a teenager from Portland who went missing between 1968 and 1969. Her identity was discovered through advanced DNA technology, which has helped solve stubborn cold cases in recent years.
The case's breakthrough came last year in January, when a person uploaded their DNA to the genealogy database, GEDMatch, and the tool immediately determined that the DNA donor was a distant family member of Young. According to Oregon State Police, Young's DNA was already in databases used by law enforcement to help identify missing persons.
From there, a genetic genealogist working with local law enforcement helped track down other possible relatives and encouraged them to provide their DNA. That work eventually led to Young's sister and other family members who confirmed that Young went missing around the same time that a body was discovered in the far north end of Sauvie Island.
Young went to Grant High School in Portland, which is less than an hour's drive south of Sauvie Island. She was between 16 and 18 when she was last seen in the city.
Over the years, the state's medical examiner's office used a variety of DNA techniques to try to identify Young. Those tools predicted that Young had brown skin, brown eyes and black hair. It also determined that Young was likely of West African, South African and Northern European descent.
The Portland Police Bureau has been notified about the breakthrough in the case and "encouraged to conduct further investigation to determine, if possible, the circumstances of Sandy Young's death," Oregon State Police said.
The Portland Police Bureau and Young's family did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
But in a interview with a Portland TV station KOIN 6, Young's nephew, Lorikko Burkett Gibbs, said there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
"I know it's still being investigated, but I think there needs to be more investigation about this," Gibbs said. "The person who did this needs to pay for what they've done."
Over the years, missing persons cases have disproportionately affected communities of color. In 2022, about 546,000 people were reported missing in the U.S. — with more than a third identified as Black youth and women. And even though Black people make up just 13% of the U.S. population, they represent close to 40% of all missing persons cases, according to the Black and Missing Foundation.
veryGood! (4372)
Related
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- After massive fire closes Los Angeles interstate, motorists urged to take public transport
- AP Top 25: Georgia’s No. 1 streak hits 22, second-best ever; Louisville, Oregon State enter top 10
- ‘We want her back:' The husband of a US journalist detained in Russia appeals for her release
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- House Republicans look to pass two-step package to avoid partial government shutdown
- Taylor Swift Gives Travis Kelce a Shoutout By Changing the Lyrics of Karma During Argentina Show
- 2 arrests, dozens evacuated from apartment fire possibly caused by fireworks, authorities say
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Dozens of migrants are missing after a boat capsized off Yemen, officials say
Ranking
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Romania inaugurates an F-16 jet pilot training center for NATO allies and neighboring Ukraine
- Nightengale's Notebook: What happened at MLB GM meetings ... besides everyone getting sick
- The Pentagon identifies the 5 US troops killed in a military helicopter crash over the Mediterranean
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Florida pauses plan to disband pro-Palestinian student groups
- Caribbean island of Dominica creates world’s first marine protected area for endangered sperm whale
- New ‘joint employer’ rule could make it easier for millions to unionize - if it survives challenges
Recommendation
Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
Arizona Cardinals get last-second win over Atlanta Falcons in Kyler Murray's return
At least 2 million poor kids in the U.S. have lost Medicaid coverage since April
Millions of Indians set a new world record celebrating Diwali as worries about air pollution rise
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
Latvia’s president says West must arm Ukraine to keep Russia from future global adventures
Floods kill at least 31 in Somalia. UN warns of a flood event likely to happen once in 100 years
Washington's Alphonzo Tuputala drops pick-six before goal line; Huskies respond with safety