Key takeaways:
- The remains of Patricia Ann Tucker, 28, were found in Granby, Massachusetts in 1978 and identified Monday after more than four decades of searching.
- DNA samples from Tucker’s son helped in identifying his mother.
- Investigators are relieved to finally have closure and attribute the success of the case to a combination of “old fashioned police work” and advances in forensic genetic genealogy.
After more than four decades of searching, investigators in Massachusetts have finally identified the remains of a woman found in a small town in 1978.
The woman, referred to for decades as “Granby Girl”, was identified Monday as Patricia Ann Tucker, 28, thanks to a combination of “old fashioned police work” and advances in forensic genetic genealogy.
First Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne said in a news conference that Tucker’s remains were found buried under leaves off a road in the town of Granby on November 15, 1978.
Two years ago, Massachusetts authorities obtained Tucker’s DNA profile through a forensic laboratory and eventually identified a woman in Maryland who was likely related to her, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan said. DNA samples from Tucker’s son, who was only five years old when she died, helped in identifying his mother.
The case of “Granby Girl” has been a mystery for more than four decades, and investigators are relieved to finally have closure. “We’re very pleased to be able to provide this closure to the family,” Gagne said. “It’s a great example of how technology can help us solve cases that have been cold for a long time.”
Be First to Comment