“Gwenn Marie Story: Cincinnati Woman Identified in Las Vegas Cold Case After 44 Years | USA TODAY”

Accident – death – Obituary News : After an intensive investigation spanning several decades, authorities have finally identified the body of a teenager who was found in Las Vegas in 1979. The long-awaited breakthrough came 44 years later, as authorities announced on Tuesday. The body has been identified as Gwenn Marie Story, a 19-year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio, who tragically lost her life in Las Vegas.

The discovery of Gwenn Marie Story’s body took place in August 1979, when a man stumbled upon her lifeless form in an open field where the El Rancho Vegas Hotel and Casino once stood. Law enforcement immediately responded to the scene, only to confirm her unfortunate demise. Following a thorough autopsy, the Clark County Coroner’s Office declared her death a homicide.

At the time, the young woman remained unidentified, and she was given the name Sahara Sue Doe by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. The case went cold, leaving investigators perplexed for years. Eventually, it was assigned to the homicide cold case section, where it languished unresolved. However, in September 2022, investigators decided to pursue a forensic genetic genealogy investigation, hoping to shed light on the mysterious case. Detectives were successful in identifying and contacting potential family members, who willingly provided DNA samples for comparison.

On November 15, the hardworking detectives received the news they had been longing for: Sahara Sue Doe had been positively identified as Gwenn Marie Story through the use of DNA analysis. This significant breakthrough finally offered some closure to the grieving family.

So, who exactly was Gwenn Marie Story? According to the police, who obtained information from her relatives, the 19-year-old had departed from the Cincinnati, Ohio area during the summer of 1979. Her destination was California, where she hoped to locate her biological father. Accompanied by two male friends, she ventured out on this journey. However, the male friends returned to Cincinnati in August 1979, claiming that they had left her in Las Vegas. Tragically, her family never heard from her again after she left Ohio that summer, leaving them in a perpetual state of uncertainty and anguish.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Cold Case Section continues to investigate the case. They urge anyone with information about Gwenn Marie Story or the two males she traveled with to Las Vegas to come forward and contact the Homicide Section. Valuable information can be shared by calling 702-828-3521 or by sending an email to homicide@lvmpd.com. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers can be reached at 702-385-5555. Reports can also be submitted online at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

This gripping story serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and dedication of law enforcement agencies in solving cold cases. The identification of Gwenn Marie Story after such a prolonged period offers hope to countless other families who are still searching for answers. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s commitment to pursuing justice is commendable, as they strive to bring closure to grieving families and hold perpetrators accountable for their heinous actions.

[This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gwenn Marie Story: Cincinnati woman identified in Las Vegas cold case.].