Remains Found 35 Years Ago ID'd As GA Girl; Mom, Ex-Boyfriend Charged

MILLWOOD — The remains of a 5-year-old girl found nearly 35 years ago in south Georgia have been identified, and the girl's mother and ex-boyfriend have been charged in her killing, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Monday.

The girl, whose remains were found on Dec. 21, 1988 near Millwood in Ware County, was identified by authorities as Kenyatta "KeKe" Odom, of Albany.

Odom's body, which was previously identified as "Ware Baby Jane Doe," was found in the woods in a container encased in concrete, the GBI said.

The GBI's Regional Investigative Field Office in Douglas was then asked to help the Ware County Sheriff's Office with the probe into Odom's killing.

"Due to evidence found near the child, it was believed that there could be a connection to the Albany area," the GBI said in a news release.

The GBI's Medical Examiner Office could not determine a cause of death but concluded the case was a homicide, the GBI said.

Authorities tried to identify the body through forensic testing, missing person searches in other states and used other resources but were not successful.

However, the case took a turn in 2019 when genome sequencing, private labs and genealogy services were used to determine a family tree from Albany that was likely related to the child, the GBI said.

Three years later, a news story aired on the anniversary of Odom's death, and police received a tip, the GBI said. The tip led authorities to identify Odom and to determine she died in Albany, the GBI said.

The GBI told Patch the cause of death is currently undetermined.

A Dougherty County grand jury returned on Nov. 1 a True Bill against Evelyn Odom and Ulyster Sanders, who were then arrested Thursday in connection with Odom's killing, the GBI said.

Evelyn Odom, also known as Zmecca Luciana, 56, and Sanders, 61 - both of Albany - were charged on suspicion of felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children, aggravated battery - family violence, concealing the death of another person and conspiracy to conceal the death of another person, the GBI said.

The GBI confirmed to Patch that Evelyn Odom is the child's mother while Sanders was Evelyn Odom's live-in boyfriend at the time of Odom's death.

Once the investigation is completed, the case file will be given to the Dougherty Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

The Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office will also assist in prosecuting the case through a special arrangement.

A local donor provided a $5,000 reward that would lead to Odom's identification, the GBI said.