Remains found in riverbed 3 decades ago now ID’d as missing teen, California cops say
Three decades after remains were found in a California riverbed, they’ve been identified as a missing New York teenager, deputies say.
Through DNA testing, the remains found in 1995 were identified as 13-year-old Laura O’Malley of Queens, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said in a March 25 Facebook post.
After the skeletal remains were found “in a riverbed off Highway 129 east of Rogge Lane” on March 22, 1995, DNA testing determined they belonged to a female, deputies said.
Decades later, deputies said they examined the case and sent samples for forensic testing in 2019.
Carbon dating showed the female was likely born in the 1960s and died sometime between 1977 and 1984, deputies said.
Then, starting in 2022, deputies said they set their sights on genetic genealogy in hopes of identifying the remains and partnered with Othram Inc.
Genetic genealogy uses DNA testing coupled with “traditional genealogical methods” to create “family history profiles,” according to the Library of Congress. With genealogical DNA testing, researchers can determine if and how people are biologically related.
At Othram, scientists created a “comprehensive DNA profile” for the female that was used to create additional leads, the company said in a news release
These leads led investigators to potential relatives of the unknown female, who was ultimately identified as O’Malley, Othram said.
O’Malley was reported missing from New York in August 1975, deputies said, adding that it’s not clear when or why she ended up in California.
Her death is still under investigation, deputies said. Anyone with information is asked to contact deputies at 831-471-1121.
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Remains found in riverbed 3 decades ago now ID’d as missing teen, California cops say."
