Victim identified in 39-year-old Olive Branch cold case
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The body of a woman strangled to death in Olive Branch in 1985 has been identified, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday.
Lori Ann Mealer Pennell was identified as the woman killed, officials say.
On January 24, 1985, a woman was found on Highway 78 in Olive Branch, Mississippi. She had been strangled to death.
On March 1, the Crime Scene Technician Amber Edlin received a lead. Othram, a corporation specializing in testing forensic DNA in cold cases, identified the victim with 1,000% confirmation.
According to reports, Pennell has one living relative, a brother in California. He has been notified.
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Colby Lasyone, Director of Operations for Othram, Inc., said the company worked with DNA from the Mississippi remains using a technique called Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to develop very sensitive DNA profiles for genealogical searches.
He says the process often comes down to building a family tree, looking for unacounted persons.
Othram’s technology developed a profile which provided new leads to Desoto County investigators, who were able to confirm the woman’s identity through a relative’s DNA.
“It’s incredibly meaningful for Othram to be able to contribute and help to provide answers in the case such as the identification of Lori Pennell,” Lasyone said.
Pennell’s remains are at Blocker Cemetery in Olive Branch, inscribed with the name Jane Doe; January 24, 1985. That’s the date the woman’s body was found along Highway 78 near the Coldwater River.
Deputies say the investigation will continue until they bring those responsible to justice. “We believe that justice has no time restrictions. Therefore we will relentlessly work towards locating the perpetrators so that they can be held accountable for their actions.”
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