Oregon teen identified using DNA technology decades after remains discovered.

TLDR:

• The remains of Sandra Young, a teenager missing for over 50 years, have been identified through DNA technology.
• Advanced DNA analysis and genetic genealogy led to the conclusive confirmation of Young’s identity.

In a significant breakthrough, the remains of Sandra Young, a high school student from Portland, Oregon, who went missing in 1968 or 1969, have been identified through advanced DNA technology. Young’s skeletal remains were originally discovered over 50 years ago on Sauvie Island in the Columbia River, but it wasn’t until 2023 that a distant family member uploaded their DNA to a genealogy database, leading to the conclusive confirmation of Young’s identity. This case highlights the power of genetic genealogy in solving cold cases, but also underscores the substantial cost associated with such endeavors, which can amount to $10,000 per case.

The identification of Sandra Young after 54 years brings closure to a long-standing mystery and showcases the potential of modern DNA technology in solving cold cases.