Gwinnett Police Put Face To Skeleton Found in Suitcase

BUFORD, GA — Police have matched a face to the skeletal remains that were found stuffed in a suitcase alongside Interstate 985 in Gwinnett County this summer.

An artist's rendering of the victim — believed to be a woman in her 20s — was released by Gwinnett County Police on Tuesday after a forensic anthropologist examined the remains.

"We feel confident that a family somewhere is missing this young woman," police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera said in a news release. "By identifying her, we can try to bring closure to a family while trying to solve this crime."

In July, police were called by a Department of Transportation construction worker who was working on a section of the interstate just north of Buford Drive, where Interstate 85 and Interstate 985 split.

According to police, one of the workers had gone about 80 yards into the woods to relieve himself when he found the suitcase, which contained a human skull and other bones.

The worker then came out of the woods and told his supervisor.

After the forensic anthropologist's exam, police on Tuesday were able to release their most detailed description yet of the victim.

She's believed to be a woman who was white and probably of Asian Indian or Eastern Indian descent. She was 20-29 years old and from 5'1" to 5'5" tall.

She had some spinal fusion with slight Scoliosis (which the woman may not have known about) and there were signs of a healed injury to her ribs on the left side.

In August, police described the clothes she was wearing as:

• A black Miley Cyrus hoodie, size large
• Black, Victoria's Secret pants with the words "LOVE PINK" on one leg, size small
• Pink, 2014 Nike Women's Air Max Cage shoes, size 7

Police say the remains do not match any missing person cases in Gwinnett County and that, while the lead investigator in the case has received numerous tips over the past several months, none have been ultimately linked to this victim.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Gwinnett County Police Department's criminal investigations section at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters may contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case.

Images courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department