Texas highway patrol.Photo: SAM CRAFT/AFP via Getty
According to a report from theTexas Department of Public Safety(DPS) posted onthe Internet Monday, a collection of partial remains discovered near South County Road in Midland County, Texas in Aug. 2013 have now been positively identified as belonging toSylvia Nicole Smith.
The dusty crossroads where Smith’s remains were discovered.Google Maps
“The remains were sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, where an anthropology report was completed, and DNA was extracted,” the DPS added in its statement Monday. “The results revealed the victim was a female between the ages of 14-21 who was likely the victim of a homicide.”
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The agency added that the DNA results were later put into Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which sadly failed to produce a match.
In 2020, while working with the Midland County District Attorney’s office, the Rangers then looked for more ways to obtain a positive identification, and the sample was sent to DNA Labs International and Parabon Nanolabs.
Criminologist studying DNA.Getty
It was through this that the authorities were ultimately able to find out some basic details of the unidentified person, the DPS said in its statement.
“The results revealed the victim was of African-American descent, and identified eye color, hair color and skin tone,” the agency revealed, Monday. “A genetic genealogist who examined the DNA assisted with a match which led to a distant relative.”
After conducting interviews with potential relatives in order to gather more information on the family, authorities were led to the victim’s mother.
On June 9, the University of North Texas verified that the remains of the person found in 2013 was Smith after Texas Rangers collected DNA samples from her family for analysis.
The Rangers are now asking anyone with information on Smith’s disappearance or homicide to come forward. Texas Crime Stoppers is also offering a $3,000 reward.
The Texas Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
