Woman’s Death Ruled a Homicide After Her Remains Were Found Partially Buried. She Was Finally Identified Nearly 50 Years Later

Patricia Ann Ritchie was last seen getting into a truck with an unknown person, according to authorities

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  • The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said construction workers found partially buried skeletal remains in a wooded area in Boca Raton in January 1978
  • Attempts to identify the Jane Doe were unsuccessful until authorities collaborated Othram in 2024
  • Last December, through forensic investigative genetic genealogy, the victim was finally identified as Patricia Ann Ritchie

Skeletal remains found in a wooded area in Florida have been identified nearly 50 years later.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, construction workers found partially buried skeletal remains in Boca Raton on Jan. 18, 1978.

After the remains were collected and examined, anthropologists were able to determine that the remains belonged to a White female who was likely between 17 and 29 years old at the time of her death, the sheriff’s office said, noting that her death was ruled a homicide…

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