Girl, 16, identified as Rancho Cucamonga murder victim after 45 years
Nearly 45 years after her murder, a homicide victim in Rancho Cucamonga has been identified using DNA.
Karen Marie Heverly, 16, was found by a worker in a vineyard near 8th Street and Rochester Avenue on June 7, 1979, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
“The victim was found to have sustained traumatic injuries and the manner of death was determined to be a homicide,” the release said. “Investigators exhausted all leads attempting to identify the victim and the case went cold.”
In 2023, however, San Bernardino County officials sent the victim’s DNA samples to Othram Inc. for processing.
“Othram Inc. scientists developed a suitable DNA extract and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile,” the release explained. “Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genealogical search to produce investigative leads.”
Those leads produced the name of Heverly, who ran away from her parents’ Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, home in 1979 “under unknown circumstances,” investigators said.
Anyone with information about Heverly or what may have happened to her is asked to call Detective Justin Carty or Sgt. Justin Giles at 909-890-4904.
To report information anonymously, call WeTip at 800-78CRIME or visit wetip.com.
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