Body Found in 1979 Identified as Ohio Teenager Searching for Biological Father

A body discovered in an open field in 1979 near a busy intersection of the Las Vegas Strip has finally been identified as that of Gwenn Marie Story, a teenager from Ohio who had left home that year in search of her biological father, authorities announced on Tuesday.

For 44 years, the unidentified body, nicknamed “Sahara Sue Doe” after the intersection where she was found, puzzled law enforcement. However, recent advancements in DNA testing technology led to a breakthrough in the case last month, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was able to identify the victim as Gwenn Marie Story.

According to the police, Gwenn Marie Story’s body was discovered on the night of August 14, 1979, by a man walking through a vacant lot near the northern edge of the Las Vegas Strip. She had wavy hair and her fingernails and toenails were painted red. The area where she was found, now home to the bustling Strat Hotel, is also near the Sahara hotel-casino.

An entry in the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s database revealed that authorities believed the victim had died within 24 hours prior to the discovery. An autopsy confirmed that Gwenn Marie Story was a victim of homicide, but it wasn’t until a partnership with a private DNA testing laboratory last September that her identity was finally revealed.

Forensic genealogy analysis specialists at Othram were able to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman, which led to the identification of possible relatives. DNA samples provided by these relatives confirmed that “Sahara Sue Doe” was, in fact, the missing Ohio teen, Gwenn Marie Story.

According to Story’s family, she had left home in Cincinnati during the summer of 1979 in search of her father in California. She had traveled to Las Vegas in the company of two male friends. Unfortunately, Story’s family never heard from her again, and when the two friends returned to Cincinnati in August of that year, they informed the family that they had left her in Las Vegas.

With the identification of Gwenn Marie Story, the Las Vegas Police Department is now shifting its focus to investigating the two male friends and determining how Story ended up dead near the Las Vegas Strip.

This breakthrough in Gwenn Marie Story’s case comes at a time when advancements in genetic testing have led to more identifications and arrests in long-unsolved cases. Othram, the forensic genealogy analysis company involved in this case, has also helped Nevada State Police identify another victim, Florence Charleston, who had been nameless for 45 years until her remains were found in a garment bag in northern Nevada in 1978. Charleston, like Story, had also gone missing from Ohio.

Anyone with information about Gwenn Marie Story or the two males she traveled to Las Vegas with is urged to contact the Las Vegas Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-3521 or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

Advancements in DNA Testing Lead to Identification of Teenager’s 44-Year-Old Remains

After decades of mystery, the body found in an open field near the Las Vegas Strip in 1979 has finally been identified as Gwenn Marie Story. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced on Tuesday that advancements in DNA testing technology played a crucial role in the identification process, which was completed last month. The case had remained unsolved for 44 years until the breakthrough.

Gwenn Marie Story: The Search for a Missing Father

Gwenn Marie Story was a 19-year-old from Ohio who had left her home in Cincinnati in 1979 in search of her biological father in California. She had embarked on this journey with two male friends, but tragically, her family never heard from her again. The two friends later returned to Cincinnati in August of that year and informed the family that they had left her in Las Vegas. The discovery of her body near the Las Vegas Strip raises questions about the circumstances that led to her untimely demise.

Othram’s Forensic Genealogy Analysis Unveils the Truth

Othram, a private DNA testing laboratory specializing in forensic genealogy analysis, partnered with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to solve the decades-old mystery. Using advanced DNA testing techniques, Othram scientists were able to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unidentified victim, leading to the identification of possible relatives. DNA samples provided by these relatives confirmed that the victim was Gwenn Marie Story, ending the long-standing case of “Sahara Sue Doe.”

Focus Shifts to Unravel the Circumstances of Gwenn Marie Story’s death

With the victim’s identity finally known, the Las Vegas Police Department is now turning its attention to investigating the two male friends who accompanied Gwenn Marie Story to Las Vegas. The authorities aim to uncover the events that transpired and ultimately led to her tragic death near the Las Vegas Strip.

Advancements in Genetic Testing: A Breakthrough in Unsolved Cases

The identification of Gwenn Marie Story’s remains highlights the growing impact of advancements in genetic testing technology. In recent years, these advancements have played a pivotal role in solving numerous long-unsolved cases, ranging from missing persons and homicide investigations to sexual assault cases. The breakthrough in Story’s case brings hope to other families waiting for answers.

Contact Authorities with Information

Anyone with information about Gwenn Marie Story or the two male friends she traveled to Las Vegas with is urged to contact the Las Vegas Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-3521 or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. To provide anonymous tips, individuals can contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com.