On a summer night in 1975, 13-year-old Laura O’Malley told her parents she was going for a walk in Queens, New York—and never came back. “Her sudden disappearance sent family, friends, and local police into a frantic search.” With no clues, the case eventually went cold.
In 1995, human remains were found in a remote California riverbed, but no one linked them to Laura. The case stayed unsolved until 2019, when Santa Cruz authorities reopened it using DNA technology. Partnering with forensic lab Othram, they built a DNA profile from the remains. “This case is a reminder of how science and collaboration can bring long-overdue answers,” said Othram’s Kristen Cunnane.
By 2022, the DNA matched Laura’s relatives in New York. Her family, heartbroken but grateful, finally had answers. “While this discovery does not ease the pain… we hope it answers some long-standing questions,” said the sheriff’s office in March 2025.
Still, many questions remain—how Laura ended up in California, how she died, or whether foul play was involved. Authorities stress, “We still need the public’s help. Someone out there knows something.”
“This work matters,” added Othram CEO David Mittelman. Laura’s case proves that even the coldest cases can be solved—with time, technology, and teamwork.
