Prosecutor: 'Strong Leads' in Human Remains Probe

Authorities are following "strong leads" into the death of an Irvington teen whose remains were found in Parsippany in April—four years after she was last seen.

Following the Wednesday morning announcement that the   two months ago, Prosecutor Robert Bianchi held an afternoon press conference at the county administration building in Morristown to discuss the case.

Bianchi offered little new information, re-confirming that a bag found by cleaning company workers on April 12 held the remains of Greta Tim, of Irvington, who went missing in 2008 at the age of 14. 

The prosecutor, however, did say that investigators have "strong leads" they are following in their effort to solve what officials believe was a homicide.

"While I cannot speak specifically about the leads," he said, "I will say there are a significant amount of forensic and other leads that we are pursuing in closing in with regard to the identity of the individual who is responsible for this."

He also said that the teenager, who clearly died several years ago—he would not specify how long, did not die at the Sylvan Way site.

"We do not believe the homicide was at that location, but that the body was dumped at that location," Bianchi said.

"It was definitely a homicide."

He added that the bones found had been at the site "for a significant period of time."

Bianchi said the remains were found just outside a thick patch of trees in a largely deserted area near a number of large companies.

"About 20 or 30 feet from the burn, a significant amount of forensic material and human remains were uncovered. About five or 10 feet beyond that is the tree line," he explained. "We were pretty lucky, because if it were past the tree line where the skeletal remains were, it's likely that the workers would never have seen it."

He added that there is "nothing unusual" in a homicide taking place in one place and the victim's remains being taken to another location.

"But we're not specifically saying this homicide occurred in one place or another place pending the outcome of the investigation.

Bianchi said State Police forensic anthropologists were brought in to work with the county medical examiner to help determine Tim's identity. They are still at work in the probe, he added, along with "detectives and investigators who are following a number of fruitful leads."

He said a forensic odontologist compared the known dental records of the suspected victim against the teeth recovered at Sylvan Way. The comparison showed a match, which he said verified Tim's identity as the victim.

Asked whether Tim, who reportedly had been missing for nearly three days before her disappearance was reported, was a runaway, the prosecutor said he could not offer more detail.

"There is a lot of that information that we are in possession of... but being that this is an active investigation, we're not releasing a lot of details about the date, time, place and last person to see [Tim] and things of that nature so as not to compromise the investigation."

Bianchi said the joint probe involves his office, , the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Section, Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office, and New Jersey State Police. He asked members of the public to come forward if they have any information involving the case or the victim.

The prosecutor's office can be reached at 973-285-6200. The Morris County Sheriff's Office Crimestoppers tip program's phone number is 973-COP-CALL. The PPD is at 973-263-4300.

"We can't underscore enough our condolences to the family for this tragic loss," Bianchi said. "In the prosecutor's office, we are not going to discontinue this investigation until we find the individual or individuals who are responsible."