SHADY SIDE, Md. – On Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at approximately 1:30 pm, Officers from Southern District responded to the area of Holly and Chesapeake Drive, Shady Side, Maryland for recovered remains. Responding officers located skeletal human remains along the shoreline. The scene was secured and Homicide Detectives were summoned. An extensive search of the shoreline by numerous patrol, detectives and members of the Department of Natural Resources was conducted in which additional human skeletal remains were recovered.
After the scene was searched by the Evidence Collection Unit and Homicide Detectives the remains were transported to the OCME for a post mortem examination. Preliminary assessment by the OCME has revealed the decedent is a Caucasian, Hispanic or Asian female, approximately mid-twenties to thirty years of age with an approximate height of 5’03. It is believed the remains are that of someone who went missing within the past several months. The Anne Arundel County Police Department is working with neighboring jurisdictions in an attempt to positively identify the remains.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has been thoroughly examining the recovered human remains. Their examination concluded the human remains displayed apparent trauma with the manner being homicide.
The Anne Arundel County Police is utilizing DNA Phenotyping in order to assist in identifying the unknown human remains. DNA Phenotyping is the prediction of physical appearance from DNA. It can be used to generate leads in cases where there are no suspects or database hits, to narrow suspect lists, and to help solve human remains cases. DNA carries the genetic instruction set for an individual’s physical characteristics, producing the wide range of appearances among people. By determining how genetic information translates into physical appearance, it is possible to “reverse-engineer” DNA into a physical profile. Snapshot reads tens of thousands of genetic variants (“genotypes”) from a DNA sample and uses this information to predict what an unknown person looks like.
This is a very fluid and active investigation where the Anne Arundel County Police are urging anyone with information to come forward by calling the Anne Arundel County Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731. If people with information wish to remain anonymous they can also contact the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers.