“Decades-Old Mystery Unraveled: Mysterious Remains Found in California Shed Light on New York Teen’s Disappearance”
Identifying The Remains Found In A California Riverbed
According to a press release from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Laura O’Malley’s skeletal remains were found in a riverbed off Highway 129 in Watsonville, California, on March 22, 1995.
Ronbo76/Wikimedia CommonsThe Pajaro River, where Laura O’Malley’s remains were found in 1995.
At first, it was unknown who the corpse belonged to. DNA testing was able to establish that the remains were female, but a lack of technology prevented any deeper investigation.
Then, in 2019, the case was re-examined. Using forensic testing, including carbon dating, investigators were able to learn more about the remains. They found that they likely belonged to someone who had been born in the 1960s and died sometime between 1977 and 1984.
However, the real breakthrough in the case came between 2022 and 2023. Then, investigators were able to partner with Othram, a company that specializes in forensic DNA analysis. By studying the DNA from the skeleton, experts were able to give the deceased a name.
The body belonged to Laura O’Malley from Queens, New York. She had been missing since 1975, when she was just 13 years old.
What Happened To Laura O’Malley?
According to an article in the New York Daily News from 1978, Laura O’Malley first ran away because she didn’t get along with her stepfather. In fact, she and her siblings — two sisters and one brother — had all left their family home out of dislike for their mother’s husband. But while Laura’s siblings eventually returned home, she never did.
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