The woman who was murdered in California in 1986 is identified through genetic genealogy
Woman murdered in California in 1986 is identified through genetic genealogy 37 years after her body was dumped by a campground near California’s Pacific Crest Trail — as police now hunt for her killer and try to identify a second body found nearby
- Claudette Jean Zebolsky Powers was identified by the San Diego Sheriff’s Office 37 years after her body was found at a campground near California’s Pacific Crest Trail
- They used genetic genealogy, which is the practice of entering a DNA profile into a public database to find relatives, to identify her remains.
- Police are looking for her killer and have yet to identify a second body found near Powers – it remains unclear if the cases are related
A woman who was murdered nearly 40 years ago and heartlessly dumped near campgrounds on California’s Pacific Crest Trail has finally been identified by police using DNA testing.
The decaying remains of Claudette Jean Zebolsky Powers were found on February 16, 1986 near the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation in Warner Springs.
Genetic genealogy, the practice of entering a DNA profile into a public database to find relatives, was used to identify Powers – the results led to renewed efforts to find her killer.
Born in Michigan in January 1962, Powers lived with her husband in Washington state in the early 1980s before leaving him and moving to San Diego in 1983 or 1984, her family said.
She was last seen in September 1984 after her father died. According to police, she lived in the San Diego area until about February 1986.
Claudette Jean Zebolsky Powers (pictured) was identified by the San Diego Sheriff’s Office 37 years after her body was found at a campground near California’s Pacific Crest Trail
While Powers’ has been identified, her killer remains at large, according to the The San Diego Sheriff’s Office who asked someone with information to come forward.
Sergeant Tim Chantler told it KFMB TV that detectives are furiously working to piece together a timeline of Powers’ life before her death to try and track down a suspect.
“It took 37 years to identify who she was, to solve that mystery,” Chantler said.
“Now we have to reconstruct her whole life. Where she lived, where she worked and who she knew? Was she dating someone? Who were her friends? There we begin, a brand new mystery now, unlike the one we just solved.”
Powers’ younger sister Laura Freese has also advocated for anyone with information to come forward in the belief that “someone knows something.”
“It’s been very difficult for our family,” Freese said.
“Someone knows what happened. A neighbor, anyone who knew her knows what happened. If you’re still alive and you knew my sister and you knew what happened to her, come forward. Please, we need closure.’
Powers’ decaying remains were found on February 16, 1986, near the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation in Warner Springs
Powers was found next to a second body that has yet to be identified. It remains unclear whether the cases are related
DNA was first used to help investigate a criminal case in 1986 and hundreds of cases have since been solved thanks to advances in genealogical research.
In this case, a DNA profile obtained from a hair sample from Powers was compared to available profiles on commercial websites.
Detectives could use this – as well as census records and other public information – to build family trees and “locate a person believed to be a relative of Claudette.”
Powers’ younger sister, Laura Freese, has also pleaded for anyone with information to come forward, convinced that ‘someone knows something’
Genetic genealogy, the practice of entering a DNA profile into a public database to find relatives, has emerged as a powerful tool for identifying suspects who leave DNA at a crime scene
The method eventually allowed detectives to connect investigators with Powers’ daughters, sister, and mother.
DNA samples collected yielded a positive match and helped identify Powers.
Police said this is the seventh time the department’s homicide unit has used genetic genealogy to solve such a case.
Powers was found next to a second body that has yet to be identified. It remains unclear whether the cases are related.