Police Identify Woman Whose Skeletal Remains Found In Shady Side

SHADY SIDE, MD — Tests show that an Annapolis woman who was last seen on Sept. 26, 2017, is the homicide victim whose skeletal remains were found in Shady Side about three weeks later, Anne Arundel County Police say. The remains of Megan Leah Tilman, 43, of Rockwell Court, were found Oct. 18, 2017, in the area of Holly Drive and Chesapeake Drive where they had washed ashore.

Investigators released Tilman's name on April 10 after DNA tests of the remains and her family members confirmed her identity. Tilman was reported missing to the Annapolis Police Department on Nov. 1, 2017, by a family member.

On Feb. 14, 2019, authorities said the medical examiner concluded Tilman died from apparent trauma with the manner of death being homicide.

Authorities said previously that they believe the remains are that of someone who went missing within a year of the victim's discovery.

The police department had planned to use DNA phenotyping to identify the remains; the process predicts physical appearance from DNA. It can be used to generate leads in cases where there are no suspects or database hits, to narrow suspect lists, and to help solve human remains cases, police said in a February news release.

DNA carries the genetic blueprint for a person's physical characteristics, producing the range of appearances among people. By determining how genetic information translates into physical appearance, it is possible to "reverse-engineer" DNA into a physical profile. The process reads tens of thousands of genetic variants ("genotypes") from a DNA sample and uses this information to predict what an unidentified person looks like.

But the process was not completed after the new information about Tilman and family comparison was made by experts.

Police ask anyone with information about the case to call the Anne Arundel County Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731. To remain anonymous, contact the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line 410-222-4700.