Accident – death – Obituary News :

Identity of 44-Year-Old Cold Case Victim, “Sahara Sue Doe,” Finally Revealed

In a remarkable breakthrough, the unidentified remains of a body discovered in a desolate field near the bustling Las Vegas Strip have finally been identified after 44 years. The victim, previously known as “Sahara Sue Doe,” has been identified as Gwenn Marie Story, a 19-year-old teenager from Ohio who had embarked on a journey to search for her biological father in 1979.

The body of Ms. Story was discovered in the same year, near what is now a busy intersection on the Las Vegas Strip. Although an autopsy determined that she was a victim of homicide, her true identity remained a mystery until recently, when authorities collaborated with a private DNA testing laboratory in September 2022.

According to records maintained by the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children in the US, it is believed that Ms. Story died within 24 hours prior to the discovery of her body. For over four decades, she was known as “Sahara Sue Doe,” a nickname derived from the intersection where her remains were found.

Advancements in DNA Testing Lead to Identification

Thanks to significant advancements in DNA testing, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced on Tuesday that they were able to identify Gwenn Marie Story. The breakthrough came as a result of the collaboration with Othram, a US-based forensic genealogy analysis company, which constructed a comprehensive DNA profile for the unidentified woman.

Using this DNA profile, authorities were able to locate possible relatives who provided DNA samples. The samples conclusively confirmed that “Sahara Sue Doe” was indeed Gwenn Marie Story, the missing teenager from Ohio.

A Cold Case Revisited

The discovery of Ms. Story’s body was made on the fateful night of 14th August 1979 by a passerby walking through a vacant lot near the northern edge of the Las Vegas Strip. She was described as having wavy hair and her fingernails and toenails were painted red.

Presently, the intersection where her remains were found is dominated by the imposing Strat Hotel, adjacent to the Sahara hotel-casino. However, the focus of the investigation has now shifted towards the two male friends who accompanied Ms. Story on her ill-fated journey. These friends, who returned to the Cincinnati area in the same month that Ms. Story was found dead, had claimed to have left her in Las Vegas.

Advancements in Genetic Testing

Gwenn Marie Story’s identification is an extraordinary development in a case that remained unsolved for over four decades. It serves as a testament to the remarkable advancements in genetic testing, which have facilitated numerous identifications and breakthroughs in long-standing cold cases.

Earlier this year, Othram assisted Nevada State Police in identifying another unidentified victim, Florence Charleston, who had remained nameless for 45 years. Her heavily decomposed remains were discovered in a garment bag in a remote area of northern Nevada in October 1978. Remarkably, Florence Charleston, like Gwenn Marie Story, had also gone missing from Ohio.

The successful identification of Gwenn Marie Story offers solace to her grieving family, who had last seen her in the summer of 1979. As the investigation continues, authorities hope to uncover the truth behind her untimely demise and bring justice to those responsible.

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