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- Illinois cold case finally solved nearly 50 years later (newsbreak.com)
MORRIS, Ill. – Nearly half a century after a woman was found murdered along a secluded roadside 50 miles southwest of Chicago, officials have finally identified her. The victim, found in Grundy County in 1976 and left unnamed for decades, was identified on Thursday as JoAnne “Vicki” Smith, a 20-year-old from Ohio, authorities confirmed.
Using DNA technology, detectives managed to link the woman’s profile to surviving relatives, cracking the case open. For years, Smith’s family in Ohio had been grappling with the mystery of her disappearance since 1976.
“The case had gone cold,” admitted Grundy County Coroner John Callahan. However, a fresh look at the case in 2018, which included the exhumation of the woman’s remains, led investigators directly to Smith’s family in Ohio through genetic profiling.
Ronnie Smith, JoAnne’s brother, reminisced about the day she went missing, describing her as the centerpiece of their mother’s life. Her disappearance from their Cincinnati home was out of character and left a void in the family.
At just 8 years old at the time, Ronnie couldn’t fathom the thought of his sister being buried in an anonymous grave. Though there’s some solace in finally knowing her fate, Ronnie’s current mission is seeking justice for his sister, holding onto hope that her killer will be found and prosecuted.
The breakthrough has been called “amazing” by William Button, the Grundy County coroner in 1976, highlighting the pivotal role of DNA technology in solving cold cases.
It was revealed that JoAnne “Vickie” Smith was adopted and had undergone several name changes throughout her life, complicating efforts to trace her lineage and identify her. A ceremony to inter her remains with her late parents is planned, offering a measure of closure to a long-unresolved tragedy.
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- Illinois cold case finally solved nearly 50 years later (newsbreak.com)