The Oregon State Police have made a breakthrough in a cold case dating back to the late 1960s, identifying the remains of a Portland teenager who went missing over 50 years ago. Sandra Young, a student at Grant High School in Portland, vanished in 1968 or 1969 and her remains were discovered by a Boy Scout troop leader in a shallow grave on Sauvie Island in Oregon in 1970. The trauma to her body indicated foul play, but investigators were unable to identify her at the time.

After years of unsuccessful attempts to identify the remains, a breakthrough came in January 2023 when someone uploaded their DNA into the genealogy database GEDMatch and was recognized as a potential distant family member. Further DNA samples were uploaded by family members, leading to the identification of Sandra Young. Dr. Nici Vance of the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office praised the collaboration between family members, detectives, and DNA experts that led to Young's identification.

The case highlights the power of investigative genetic genealogy in solving cold cases and identifying unknown remains. The technology allowed investigators to predict Young's facial characteristics in 2021 and ultimately confirm her identity in 2023. The Portland Police Bureau is now working to determine the circumstances of Young's death, as her family believes she went missing around the same time her remains were discovered.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of continued efforts to solve cold cases and bring closure to families of missing persons. The diligence and collaboration of law enforcement, medical examiners, and DNA experts have allowed Sandra Young to regain her identity after 54 years, shedding light on a tragic chapter in Portland's history.