New DNA technology helped the FBI and New Orleans Police identify a homicide victim in a case that dates back to 2002.
On February 24 of that year, the body of an unknown adult woman was found in a field adjacent to the 1200 block of Eliza St. in Algiers. The coroner ruled that the woman had been murdered, but there was no identification on the body and attempts to identify the victim turned cold.
New Orleans Police say the FBI came to them about six months ago and offered to use new technology known as Investigative Genetic Genealogy, or IGG, to try and identify the victim.
Using a more comprehensive DNA analysis that takes advantage of publicly available genetic genealogy to search for a familial match, forensic examiners were able to positively identify the woman as 49-year-old Lelia Ann May Malley of Long Beach, Mississippi.
Lelia Ann May Malley, around 25 years before she died.NOPD
Malley had become estranged from her family and had last been seen by her daughter, Kimberly Bergeron, in 2000. Now that she knows her mother is dead, she is asking for help in finding out how it happened.
"I'm asking if anyone has any information about a suspect or has information about her or who had known her in the past or anything about this investigation to come forward," said Bergeron.
In addition to the FBI, NOPD was aided in this identification by LSU FACES Lab, NamUs, the North Louisiana Crime Lab and the Orleans Parish Coroner's Office.
Police say anyone who has information about Malley, especially anyone who had contact with her in 2002, should call NOPD Homicide at (504) 658-5300, or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or toll free at (877) 903-7867 (STOP).
Callers to Crimestoppers do not have to leave their names and may be eligible for a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.
