Image Of Woman From 2005 Cold Case Released

BROOKLYN PARK, MD — A woman's remains were found in 2005 in Brooklyn Park, but authorities were never able to identify her, or notify family members. New technology may help solve the nearly 13-year-old puzzle, Anne Arundel County Police say. This week police released a computer image that experts believe shows what the woman would have looked like before her death.

Two youths playing in a wooded area off Cross Street near Wasena Avenue found human remains on July 27, 2005. Investigators say the remains were those of a 19- to 23-year-old white woman, about 5’05 to 5’08 tall with dark reddish or brown curly hair. But the woman has not been unidentified and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has been unable to determine an exact cause and manner of death.

Anne Arundel County Police say they have not given up hope of identifying the woman and "hope to provide some closure to her surviving family members." The department's Cold Case Unit recently sought help from Parabon NanoLabs in Reston, Virginia, to create an image of the woman.

On its website Parabon says that it uses a forensic DNA analysis tool to predict the physical appearance and ancestry of an unknown person from DNA. It can also determine kinship between DNA samples out to six degrees of relatedness. The firm bills Snapshot as useful for generating investigative leads, narrowing suspect lists, and solving human remains cases.

Anne Arundel County Police say they hope the public can help identify the woman. Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731. To remain anonymous call 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.

Image of unidentified victim courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police