Credit: Carl Koppelman via Mohave County Sheriff's Office
On Nov. 24, 1989, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the discovery of human remains approximately 1.5 miles south of Milepost 66.5 off Interstate 40 near the Hualapai Mountains. Responding deputies observed the remains to be the partially decomposed body of a white female. She was unclothed, and her finger and toenails were painted with red nail polish.
On Dec. 2, 1989, investigating deputies returned to the scene to search for the victim’s clothing. In doing so, a detective observed what appeared to be a piece of clothing sticking up from the ground from under a nearby tree. The clothing was recovered and found to be a handmade white blouse with a blue/purple flower pattern on it.
An autopsy conducted on the victim revealed the following information: she was approximately 5’5” tall, approximately 115 pounds, between 25 to 30 years old. The announcement of her discovery and a request for information regarding the case and/or her identity was reported in the local newspapers with negative results. The case was later shared again in 2021 when the case was assigned to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
SIU investigators learned in 2021 that a DNA profile from the victim had been entered into CODIS in 2016, but her identity had remained unknown. Investigators then contacted Gene by Gene, a forensic laboratory located in Texas. Gene by Gene was able to create a DNA profile of the victim and enter it into GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA, public genealogy databases who work with law enforcement. Investigators learned that the victim was 96% Ashkenazi Jew, which made it extremely difficult to trace her ancestry and locate family members.
From 2021 to present, SIU investigators have continued their efforts to identify the victim but have been unsuccessful. In early 2026, investigators partnered with Ramapo College, a public college in New Jersey to assist in the investigation. Ramapo College houses an Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, the first of its kind. It is hoped that the IGG team at the college will be able to solve the mystery of this woman’s identity. In doing so, one of the first things that the college did was partner with a forensic artist to create a rendering of what she may have looked like. The rendering was created based on photos of her skeletal remains, the shirt found at the scene, and the earrings she was wearing when she was found.
If anyone has information regarding this case, please contact the Special Investigation Unit at (928) 753-0753 x4044, and reference DR# 89-4531.
Republished courtesy of Mohave County Sheriff’s Office