Remains Found in California Identified as Teen Who Vanished 50 Years Ago

After five decades of uncertainty, a family is finally getting some answers about a 13-year-old girl who went missing from her New York home in 1975.

Laura O’Malley, who grew up in Queens, was reported missing in August of that year. According to a statement from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office on March 25, her family never saw or heard from her again.

In 1995, the remains of a young girl were found in a riverbed in Santa Cruz, California. Decades later, forensic advancements have finally revealed her identity.

According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the remains belonged to 13-year-old Laura O’Malley, who went missing from her New York home in 1975.

The case was reopened in 2019, and with the help of forensic DNA specialists at Othram, investigators were able to confirm her identity.

Authorities are still investigating the circumstances of O’Malley’s death and how she ended up in California.

According to People magazine, while many questions remain, authorities say O’Malley’s family is grateful to have some closure finally.

“They have been incredibly supportive and thankful during this entire process, and we’re incredibly grateful for that, too,” Ashley Keehn, the public information officer for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, stated.

“Being able to bring them that small piece of closure that they might not have gotten otherwise if we didn’t re-look at this case.”

A 1978 article from the New York Daily News mentioned that O’Malley had two sisters and a brother. At one point, all of them left their Long Beach, Long Island home due to conflicts with their stepfather. While the others eventually returned, the 13-year-old never did.

“Missing persons detectives concerned about the vulnerability of a young girl on her own in this city have pursued countless leads but have turned up no hard information about where she may be.”

“Meanwhile, Laura’s sisters continue to circulate her picture and appeal to all who know her to carry on the search.”

Reportedly, she had written a note to her mother, saying she wouldn’t come back as long as her stepfather remained in the house.

When questioned about the newspaper’s report, Ashley stated that the circumstances of O’Malley’s disappearance and death remain under investigation.

“There are still some questions about [whether] she left on her own accord or if she was forced to leave, or if she was kidnapped and taken to California,” she added. “So, that is something that’s still not known and under investigation.”

Two decades after O’Malley went missing, investigators found unidentified partial skeletal remains in a riverbed near a highway, according to the sheriff’s office.

Initially, they believed it was a “homestead burial,” Keehn explained.

“It was thought that a family member may have just buried a loved one a long, long time ago,” she continued. “And that there wasn’t really any forensic testing that could be done at that time to determine an identity.”

However, that theory was later ruled out.

For years, the person’s identity remained a mystery. In 2019, investigators took another look at the case, and carbon dating revealed that the individual was born in the 1960s and passed away sometime between 1977 and 1984, according to the sheriff’s office.

As the investigation continued, authorities worked with Othram to find new leads. With their help, along with volunteer genealogist Deborah Medina, they were finally able to identify the missing girl.

“We hope that sharing this case will jog someone’s memory,” said Keehn. “Maybe someone saw her in California or before she left New York and can give us a call.”

The Sheriff’s Office urged anyone with information to call their dispatch at 831-471-1121.

Source: People Magazine