Police Determine Identity of Decomposed Remains Found in 1992

Police in Arizona have determined that decomposed remains found in August 1992 in a remote desert area outside Phoenix were those of a missing 15-year-old, Melody Harrison. Authorities are now investigating how she died, including the possibility she was the victim of a serial killer.

The Apache Junction Police Department announced Thursday that advancements in DNA testing helped them make the discovery 31 years after Harrison's disappearance in June 1992.

Police said in a news release Thursday that the case soon went cold after the remains were found, and for decades the remains were known only as "Apache Junction Jane Doe," who they believed was between 16 and 18 at the time of her death.

The case was later entered into a database maintained by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Unidentified Persons System.

Authorities discovered the body of a teenage girl, estimated to have been dead for three to five weeks, wearing Levi's denim shorts, a soccer-themed shirt, and a yellow ring on her left hand. Inside her pants pockets, police found a public transit token labeled "Valid for one student fare," according to a database entry.

In 2008, Apache Junction police investigator Stephanie Bourgeois took over the case, but DNA testing at that time was unsuccessful, stated the police department.

In 2018, Bourgeois enlisted the help of the DNA Doe Project, a volunteer research group specializing in forensic genealogy analysis. Through DNA analysis of the remains, the researchers were able to create a comprehensive profile, leading them to potential relatives.

The DNA Doe Project stated on their website that it took over five years and the dedication of more than a dozen volunteer investigative genetic genealogists to make a breakthrough in the case.

Police confirmed that "Apache Junction Jane Doe" was identified as Harrison through a second DNA test conducted on likely family members.

Unresolved Death: Seeking Answers

A sense of relief has come with the discovery of Melody's true identity and the ability to inform her family, but the mystery surrounding her death remains unsolved," stated Bourgeois. "We are still determined to uncover the truth about how she met her demise."

A Possible Connection to a Serial Killer?

Law enforcement officials are now exploring all potential leads, including the theory that the teenager may have fallen victim to a serial killer, according to CBS affiliate .

Bryan Patrick Miller, also known as the Zombie Hunter, was recently found guilty of the murders of Angela Brosso, a 23-year-old who was killed in 1992, and Melanie Bernas, a 15-year-old who was killed in 1993.

"We will thoroughly investigate all leads, including these two cases," Bourgeois assured.