Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Unidentified Woman Found in 1974 Finally Identified as Linda Sue Childers
For five long decades, the identity of a young woman whose body was discovered in 1974 remained a mystery. Known only as Jane Doe, her skeletal remains were found in a shallow grave in Ledyard, Connecticut, along with another victim. The tragic incident was reported by a witness who claimed to have seen a double homicide at the location on Dec. 31, 1970.
Despite the witness’s report, the female victim had used an alias, making it challenging for authorities to confirm her identity. Examination of her remains revealed that she had died from a gunshot wound to the head, and her death was ruled a homicide. The suspects in the double homicide were arrested and convicted, but both have since passed away.
A Breakthrough in the Case
After years of uncertainty, the unidentified woman has finally been named as Linda Sue Childers from Kentucky. Police were able to track down her family members, who confirmed her presence in the Northeast before her disappearance.
The case data was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in 2011, along with the victim’s dental records and a description of her as a white female aged between 18 and 30. Despite efforts to find a match through DNA databases, no positive matches were found.
Forensic Genealogy Leads to Identification
In a breakthrough in July 2022, samples were sent to Othram, a private company specializing in forensic genealogy. Through DNA extraction and sequencing, Childers’s DNA was uploaded into a genetic genealogy database. Medical death investigator Michelle Clark and Connecticut State Police Detective Michael Hamel worked tirelessly to reopen the case.
In January 2024, a positive identification was made when the victim’s sister was contacted and provided a DNA sample. This ultimately confirmed Linda Sue Childers’s identity, bringing closure to her family after decades of uncertainty.
Contact Stephen Underwood at sunderwood@courant.com for more information.
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