Melony Harrison, Missing Teen for 30 Years, Identified as Deceased Victim Found in Arizona Desert

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Newly Identified Human Remains Found in Remote Arizona Desert Finally Identified after 30 Years

PHOENIX — In a breakthrough discovery, the human remains discovered over 30 years ago in a remote desert area in Apache Junction, Arizona have finally been identified, according to local police authorities.

The remains have been determined to belong to Melony Harrison, a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing from Phoenix in June 1992, as confirmed by the Apache Police Department. The identification of Harrison’s remains brings closure to a cold case that had remained unsolved for decades.

The remains were initially found near Idaho and Baseline roads on August 6, 1991, as reported by the police. At the time, the case was labeled as “Apache Junction Jane Doe” due to the lack of identification. Investigators estimated that she was between 16 and 18 years old at the time of her death. The case was subsequently entered into a database managed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Unidentified Persons System.

The breakthrough in identifying the remains came through the use of genetic genealogy by the DNA Doe Project. By analyzing the DNA and building a family tree, investigators were able to connect the remains to Harrison’s relatives. This was made possible by leveraging two additional databases, GEDmatch Pro and FamilyTreeDNA.com.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Unidentified Persons System, Harrison’s remains were believed to have been discovered three to five weeks after her death. She was found wearing Levi’s denim jeans and a shirt adorned with soccer balls. Additionally, a yellow ring was found on her left hand, and a public transit token labeled “Valid for one student fare” was discovered in her front pants pocket.

Interestingly, Harrison’s family had removed her from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Unidentified Persons System database approximately four years later, as they believed she was still alive, as reported by the AP. The case was reopened in 2008, but DNA evidence at the time proved unsuccessful in identifying the remains.

The DNA Doe Project expressed their dedication and perseverance in solving this case, stating that it took five years and the tireless efforts of more than a dozen volunteer investigative genetic genealogists to achieve the critical breakthrough.

While the identification of Melony Harrison provides some peace of mind to her family, the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. Apache Junction Police Investigator Stephanie Bourgeois emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and their main focus now is determining how and why Harrison ended up in the remote desert in 1992.

As investigators continue their efforts, the identification of Melony Harrison after 30 years serves as a testament to the advancements in forensic technology and the tireless dedication of law enforcement agencies and volunteer organizations in solving cold cases and bringing closure to grieving families..