Remains found in Pennsylvania more than 50 years ago have been identified as those of a missing teenager

CNN
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The remains of a York, Pennsylvania, teenager who disappeared in 1973 have been identified through genealogy and DNA analysis more than 50 years after she disappeared, authorities said.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, on October 10, 1973, two game wardens discovered decomposed remains under a plastic tarp and brush in a wooded area in Union Township. Investigators were unable to identify them at the time, but described Jane Doe as a white female with long brown or blonde hair. Her manner of death was considered undetermined.

More than half a century later, investigators, using DNA analysis and interviews with living relatives, determined that the remains were those of Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman, a 14-year-old from York who police said had been missing since the beginning of the 1973 school year.

“Their work has allowed us to put an end to the issues that have plagued us for the last 51 years,” Ruth’s family said in a statement read by police at a news conference Thursday.

The case went cold until 2016, when police exhumed the remains from a remote corner of a cemetery in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, to obtain her DNA. This came after years of unsuccessful attempts to identify Ruth, which included the creation of two busts depicting what the girl may have looked like.

The remains were taken to a local hospital where they were examined. But it wasn’t until years later – with advances in genealogy technology – that investigators last month identified the remains as Ruth’s, police said.

Ruth, born November 26, 1958, left for school and never returned home. An investigation is ongoing into whether she actually made it to the school and how far she traveled to and from the school. Several months later, Keck said, her remains were found about 50 miles north of her hometown. There are no records confirming Ruth’s death and it is unclear whether she has been reported missing, state police say.

As part of the genealogical research, investigators interviewed family members and reviewed old newspaper articles and court documents.

“When you make contact with the family, that’s the moment you realize who they’ve been looking for all along,” Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Ian Keck said at a news conference Thursday. “It’s kind of a surprise for the family. It’s been 51 years and they’ve always had this unanswered question, and finally through the investigation, in some sense, we were able to give them that answer.

This case is another example of how to do this investigative genetic genealogy – a field that combines DNA evidence and traditional genealogy to find biological connections between people – helps detectives solve cold cases and identify remains of unknown people found several dozen years ago.

“At that time, genealogy was most likely in its infancy,” Keck said. “But as technology progressed, we hoped to expand further.”

It is still unclear how the girl died. Authorities said Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate Ruth’s death to determine her last known activities.

While there was “some suspicion” about her death, the coroner’s office still has not ruled whether it was a homicide, Sgt. Pennsylvania State Police. Josh Lacey said on Thursday. AND Prize $5,000 The police announced on Friday that they were receiving information in this case.

“This is another part of this investigation and it’s not over yet, so we have to continue,” Keck said.