“Sahara Sue” Identified as Gwenn Marie Story, 19, Murdered in 1979: Las Vegas Police

Accident – Death – Obituary News : LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas police have made a breakthrough in a cold case from 1979, identifying a homicide victim as Gwenn Marie Story, a 19-year-old woman from Colerain Township, Ohio. The body was discovered in a desert area on the Las Vegas Strip near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. The case gained attention at the time and the victim was known as “Sahara Sue” due to the location of the discovery.

The identification of Gwenn Marie Story was made possible through DNA testing conducted by Othram Labs, a Texas-based company that specializes in assisting law enforcement agencies with cold case investigations. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) cold case investigator, Terri Miller, confirmed the match. This discovery brings hope to solving this long-standing mystery.

According to Miller, witnesses reported seeing Gwenn Marie Story and an unidentified man visiting a now-closed liquor store near the intersection approximately an hour before her body was found. The store clerk described the man as approximately six feet tall, with a thin build, and a mustache that was a different color than his hair. In an effort to aid the investigation, the police released a composite sketch of the man shortly after the discovery of Story’s body.

It is believed that Gwenn Marie Story traveled to Las Vegas in the summer of 1979 with two men from the Cincinnati area. Their motive for the trip was to find her biological father in California. However, the two men returned to Ohio without her. Their identities remain unknown, and it is unclear if they are connected to her murder.

Investigator David Charns asked Miller if she believed one of the men could be responsible for Gwenn Marie Story’s death. Miller replied that she doesn’t have enough information to make that determination until she can interview them. This investigation is still in its early stages, and any leads or potential suspects are being closely examined.

The identification of Gwenn Marie Story brings a sense of closure to her family, who have been searching for answers for 44 years. In a statement, the family expressed their gratitude to the detectives at LVMPD who have tirelessly worked on this case over the years. They also appealed to the public for any information that could help provide further insight into Gwenn Marie Story’s murder.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 702-385-5555 or by visiting crimestoppersofnv.com/report-a-crime. Tips can also be submitted via text by sending “CRIMENV” followed by the message to “CRIMES” (274637). Crime Stoppers offers a reward for information that leads to an arrest.

This breakthrough in the Gwenn Marie Story case serves as a reminder that no cold case is ever truly closed. Through advancements in technology and dedicated investigators, justice can still be served, even decades later..