“19-Year-Old Woman Identified Decades After Found Dead in Las Vegas: Meet Gwenn Marie Story”

19-Year-Old Woman Finally Identified Decades After Her Mysterious death in Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department made a significant breakthrough on Tuesday by revealing the true identity of a young woman who was found dead in 1979. The previously unidentified 19-year-old, known as “Sahara Sue Doe” due to the location where her body was discovered, has now been officially identified as Gwenn Marie Story, thanks to advanced DNA testing conducted by the authorities.

According to the Las Vegas Police Department, the woman’s body was discovered in an empty lot near the famous Las Vegas Strip. Interestingly, the exact location where she was found is now overlooked by the Strat Hotel, a prominent landmark known for the Sahara hotel-casino.

Authorities revealed that the victim passed away within 24 hours of being located, as indicated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s database. An autopsy confirmed that her death was a result of homicide, but despite extensive investigations, her true identity remained a mystery for several decades. It was only in September of last year when detectives joined forces with a private DNA testing laboratory that they were able to make this significant breakthrough.

Othram, a renowned forensic genealogy analysis company, played a pivotal role in identifying the young woman. Through their investigation, they discovered that the victim was dressed in Levi’s jeans and a linen shirt adorned with red floral embroidery and sequins. Her relatives verified these details and confirmed that she was also wearing various items of jewelry. It was further revealed that Gwenn Marie Story had left her hometown of Cincinnati in the summer of 1979, embarking on a journey to California in search of her father. She was accompanied by two male friends during her travels, but tragically, she never returned, and her family never heard from her again.

The Las Vegas Police Department has now shifted its focus towards the two male friends who were with Gwenn, aiming to uncover the events that ultimately led to her untimely demise. This breakthrough comes at a time when advancements in genetic testing have proven instrumental in solving cold cases and identifying long-unknown victims.

In a separate case that took place in October 1978, Othram assisted the Nevada State Police in assigning a name to another unidentified victim found six months prior to Gwenn Story’s discovery. Law enforcement agencies are encouraging anyone with information about Gwenn Story or her companions during her ill-fated journey to come forward and contact the Las Vegas Homicide Section.