17-year-old homicide victim whose body was found in Calif. vineyard in 1979 is identified

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (TCD) -- Investigators recently identified a cold case victim from Pennsylvania who was found dead in a California vineyard nearly 45 years ago.

According to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, on June 7, 1979, at approximately 12:20 p.m., a vineyard worker found the victim’s body in the area of 8th Street and Rochester Avenue. Investigators determined the female victim sustained traumatic injuries, and her death was ruled a homicide. The sheriff’s department suspected the woman was between 18 and 30 years old, but she didn’t have any identifying marks, such as scars or tattoos. Officials exhausted all leads, and the case went cold.

In 2023, the sheriff’s department reopened the investigation and submitted the victim’s DNA samples to Othram in hopes of identifying the woman.

Othram used forensic genealogy to create a comprehensive DNA profile and worked with the sheriff’s department to positively name the victim as 17-year-old Karen Heverly, who was born Jan. 27, 1962. Heverly, originally from Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, reportedly left her parents' home in 1979 "under unknown circumstances."

The investigation remains active and ongoing.

MORE:

• Victim in 1979 Homicide Cold Case is Identified by Forensic DNA Testing: Homicide Investigation Continues - San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
• San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department Teams with Othram to Identify 1979 Homicide Victim - Othram