Accident – Death – Obituary News :
In a significant breakthrough, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department has identified the body of a woman who was strangled to death in Olive Branch in 1985. The victim has been confirmed as Lori Ann Mealer Pennell.
Discovery of the Victim
The tragic incident took place on January 24, 1985, when the lifeless body of a woman was found on Highway 78 in Olive Branch, Mississippi. She had been strangled to death, and her identity remained a mystery for over three decades.
Positive Identification
On March 1, a lead was received by Crime Scene Technician Amber Edlin, which led to a breakthrough in the case. Othram, a corporation specializing in testing forensic DNA in cold cases, provided a 1,000% confirmation of the victim’s identity as Lori Ann Mealer Pennell.
Pennell is said to have one living relative, a brother residing in California, who has been informed of the tragic news.
Continued Investigation
Deputies have vowed to continue the investigation until those responsible for Pennell’s death are brought to justice. They firmly believe that justice has no time restrictions and are committed to relentlessly pursuing the perpetrators.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department stated, “We will relentlessly work towards locating the perpetrators so that they can be held accountable for their actions.”
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