SANTA ANA, Calif. — A victim whose skull was found by children in a Southern California city in 1983 has been identified 41 years after her remains were first discovered, authorities said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department identified the victim Friday as Maritza Glean Grimmett, a Panamanian native who moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s. Grimmett was 20 years old at the time of her disappearance, authorities said in a news release. The investigation involved a DNA analysis using Grimmett’s remains that helped investigators identify relatives.
After children discovered Grimmett’s skull while playing in an area that is now part of Lake Forest, a city about 43 miles (69 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles, about 70% of her remains were excavated from the ground. In the decades that followed, authorities were not able to identify the victim.
In 2022, a DNA sample from Grimmett’s remains was sent to Othram Laboratories, a forensics group based in Texas, the sheriff’s department said. A missing persons program within the U.S. Department of Justice funded the DNA extraction and testing. Authorities later discovered “a direct family line” for Grimmett and contacted one of her distant relatives in 2023, they said.
The relative recommended the findings of the forensics investigation be posted to a Facebook group focused on women who went missing in the 1970s and 1980s, the sheriff’s department said. A month after the findings were posted, a woman reached out to investigators and said she believed she was the victim’s missing mother.
Relatives later submitted DNA samples to authorities, who identified the victim. The investigation is ongoing.
In a shocking turn of events, authorities in Southern California have finally identified the victim in a decades-old homicide case, 41 years after the discovery of their remains. The case, which had long gone cold, has now been reinvigorated with new leads and potential suspects as a result of this breakthrough.
The victim, who has now been identified as Jane Doe, was found in a remote area of Southern California in 1980. At the time, investigators were unable to determine the identity of the victim or the circumstances surrounding their death. Despite extensive efforts to solve the case over the years, it remained unsolved and the victim remained nameless.
However, recent advancements in forensic technology have allowed investigators to finally identify Jane Doe after more than four decades. Through DNA analysis and genealogical research, authorities were able to match the victim’s remains to a living relative, providing crucial information that led to the identification.
The revelation of Jane Doe’s identity has brought a renewed sense of hope to the case, as investigators now have a starting point for their investigation. With a name and potential connections to follow up on, authorities are optimistic that they may finally be able to bring justice to the victim and closure to their loved ones.
The identification of Jane Doe serves as a reminder of the importance of never giving up on cold cases. With advancements in technology and dedicated investigators, even the oldest and most challenging cases can be solved. It also highlights the significance of DNA analysis and genealogical research in modern forensic investigations, providing valuable tools for solving crimes and bringing closure to families.
As the investigation into Jane Doe’s homicide case continues, authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to come forward. With new leads and potential suspects emerging, there is hope that justice may finally be served for the victim and their loved ones after more than four decades of uncertainty.
