MORRIS, Ill. (CBS) – A lady discovered murdered on the aspect of a rural highway about 50 miles southwest of Chicago in 1976 has been recognized, officers introduced Thursday.
The lady discovered useless in Grundy County had been anonymous. Officials recognized her on Thursday as JoAnne “Vicki” Smith, who was solely 20 years previous when she died.
Detectives mentioned the lady’s DNA led them to surviving family members. Earlier this yr, a DNA match led authorities to determine the physique as Smith’s.
For practically 50 years, her household has questioned what occurred to their beloved one, who vanished from their house in Ohio in 1976.
“The case went chilly,” mentioned John Callahan, the Grundy County coroner.
But then in 2018, the coroner’s workplace took one other look and the unidentified lady’s stays had been exhumed. This yr, the lady’s genetic profile led investigators to the Smith household, initially from Ohio.
“I do not forget that morning that she went lacking,” mentioned Ronnie Smith, her brother.
Ronnie mentioned JoAnne was his older sister and the “apple of my mom’s eye.” She went lacking from their household house in Cincinnati in 1976 and was by no means heard from once more. Ronnie was simply 8 years previous when his sister disappeared.
“That wasn’t one thing that was regular in our family,” Ronnie Smith mentioned. “No one stayed out at night time. That simply did not occur, not at my mom’s house. I am unable to think about something extra devastating to be buried in an unmarked grave.”
Smith mentioned whereas he has closure understanding what occurred to his sister, his focus is now on discovering the individual accountable.
“We will at all times imagine, and we are going to imagine, that whoever perpetrated this crime in opposition to her, in the event that they’re alive, they are going to be delivered to justice,” he mentioned.
William Button, the Grundy County coroner again in 1976, known as the identification “superb.”
“Unbelievable, I’ll inform you the reality,” Button mentioned. “Because, have a look at what DNA’s achieved.”
Investigators mentioned JoAnne “Vickie” Smith was adopted, and her title modified a number of instances, which added to the complexity of the case and monitoring down family members.
Her stays might be interred together with her late dad and mom in a future ceremony.
