SHADY SIDE, Md. — A woman whose remains were found in 2017 along a shoreline in Shady Side was murdered, according to police and autopsy results.
The skeletal remains were found in Shady Side, in the area of Holly and Chesapeake Drive, at about 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2017, Anne Arundel County Police said. A further search yielded additional remains.
The remains were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for a post mortem exam to determine the woman’s potential identity and cause of death. An initial exam revealed the woman was in her mid-20s to 30 years old, roughly 5 feet, 3 inches tall, and either of Caucasian, Hispanic, or Asian ancestry. Police believe the woman may been someone who was reported missing several months prior. Police canvassed the neighborhood to try to establish her identity.
Thursday, police released further results from the OCME exam. It was determined “the human remains displayed apparent trauma with the manner being homicide,” police said. A DNA phenotyping technology is being used to try to more specifically identify the woman, creating a predictive physical appearance from DNA. Because physical traits are the expression of genetic material, the process attempts to “‘reverse-engineer’ DNA into a physical profile,” police said.
Anne Arundel County Police are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information should contact the Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731 or the police department’s Tip Line at 410-222-4700, or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
