“Gwenn Marie Story: Cold Case Victim Identified 44 Years Later in Las Vegas”

Accident – death – Obituary News : LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas police, in collaboration with Othram, have successfully identified the remains of a victim who was tragically killed in 1979. This breakthrough provides closure to a decades-old cold case that has haunted investigators and the victim’s family for years.

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the discovery took place on August 14, 1979, when a passerby walking through an open field near Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard stumbled upon the lifeless body of a woman. The area where the grim finding was made was once occupied by the El Rancho Vegas Hotel and Casino. Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene and determined that the woman had been murdered. The Clark County Coroner’s office conducted an autopsy, confirming the cause of death to be homicide.

Despite the efforts of authorities, the woman’s identity remained a mystery for several decades. Forensic sketches were released to the public in an attempt to generate leads and aid in identification, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful.

In September 2022, Las Vegas police sought the assistance of Othram, a forensic genetic genealogy organization, to conduct further investigations. Through diligent work and leads on the case, detectives were able to locate and contact potential family members who willingly provided DNA samples for comparison. Othram’s scientists successfully extracted DNA and utilized forensic-grade genome sequencing to construct a comprehensive DNA profile for the unidentified woman.

On November 15, 2023, Las Vegas detectives received notification from Othram that the woman had been identified as Gwenn Marie Story. This breakthrough allowed investigators to finally put a name to the victim, providing some solace to her grieving family.

According to cold case investigators, family members revealed that Story was only 19 years old when she left Cincinnati, Ohio in search of her biological father. She embarked on this journey accompanied by two male friends. Tragically, the men claimed to have left her in the Las Vegas area, and she was never heard from again.

The LVMPD Homicide Cold Case Section remains dedicated to resolving this case and bringing justice to Gwenn Marie Story. They are urging anyone with information about Story or the two men she traveled with to come forward. Individuals can contact the homicide section by phone at 702-828-3521 or via email at homicide@lvmpd.com. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers can be reached at 702-385-555 or through their website at crimestoppersofnv.com.

The identification of Gwenn Marie Story is a significant step forward in this long-standing cold case investigation. It highlights the power of advanced forensic techniques and collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies and organizations like Othram. As authorities continue to work tirelessly to uncover the truth, the hope for justice burns brighter than ever before.

Please note that all images used in this article are credited to Othram and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

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Note: This article has been written using British English..