A woman whose body was found inside a canvas sack in the Arizona desert in 1971 was identified Monday through DNA testing, authorities reported.
Colleen Audrey Rice was identified by the Mohave County Sheriff’s office 52 years to the day that her body was discovered after investigators partnered with Othram Inc. to help solve the case, 8 News Now reported. The company has helped solve numerous crimes and missing identity cases through DNA testing and forensic-grade genome sequencing, the outlet reported. (RELATED: Police Identify Boy’s Remains After 65 Years)
Authorities in 1971 gave detailed descriptions of Rice after she was found, indicating her height, weight, hair color as well as specific articles of clothing found on her body. Despite that, Rice’s identity remained unknown until the Mohave County Sheriff’s office and the community raised $7,500 to test her remains through Othram, Inc, the outlet stated.
Though authorities still aren’t sure how or why she was killed, they discovered Rice was born on March 17, 1931 in Portsmouth, Ohio to James C. Rice and Flossie Truitt. Records show that Colleen Audrey Rice married William Davis in 1946 in Ohio, but at some point lost contact with her family and wound up in Arizona. Authorities were even able to track down her high school yearbook photo.
As authorities seek to clear up the mystery surrounding her death, they are hoping this long-awaited piece of the puzzle will help them identify the one responsible.