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Newsweek
28-07-2025
- Newsweek
Breakthrough in Missing Child Case From 37 Years Ago
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The use of DNA technology has enabled a breakthrough in a missing child case from over 30 years ago. When remains were found along the highway in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in November 1992, all investigators could determine was that they belonged to a teenage boy. Now, with the use of forensic technology, scientists have been able to determine that the bones belong to Anthony Angelli Rea, a teen who went missing from Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1988. Newsweek has contacted the Essex County DA's office via email for comment. Anthony Angelli Rea, circa 1980s in images released by the Essex County DA's office. Anthony Angelli Rea, circa 1980s in images released by the Essex County DA's office. Essex County District Attorney's Office The Context Rea's disappearance has gone unsolved for over three decades, and would have likely remained unsolved if it were not for new forensic technology. What To Know According to the Essex County DA's office, Rea was born in 1973 and lived for at least some of his life in Malden, Massachusetts. He was at the Harbor School in Newbury in August 1988 when he went missing. Partially buried skeletal remains, which investigators now know to be Rea's, were found in marsh grass alongside Route 95 South in Newburyport. The autopsy conducted at the time also could not determine the cause of death, per the Essex County DA's office. Investigators in 2025 were able to use support from NamUS, a missing persons criminal justice program funded and run by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) via a contract with Research Triangle Institute International (RTI), to pay for work conducted by private forensics lab Othram, located in Texas. Forensic genetic genealogy scientists at Othram were able to use Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to create a profile for the remains, which is how they identified relatives of the deceased, and ultimately solved who the remains belonged to, explained the Essex County DA's office via a press release. What People Are Saying The Essex County DA's Office in a press release: "For 32 years, the State Police assigned to the Essex County District Attorney's Office and the Newburyport Police attempted to identify the remains. "Although investigators developed significant leads, due to the limitations in DNA identification, they were unable to make a positive identification. "Today, the Essex District Attorney's Office, with the assistance of Othram, a private forensic laboratory in Woodlands, Texas, can positively identify the remains as that of Anthony Angelli Rea." What Happens Next Police are still investigating what happened to Rea and have asked for the public to contact the State Police Unresolved Case Unit at 855-MA-SOLVE with any information they may have.
CBS News
25-07-2025
- CBS News
Remains found in Massachusetts in 1992 identified as teen reported missing
Skeletal remains found in Massachusetts in 1992 have now been identified as Anthony Angelli Rea, a teen who was reported missing four years earlier. Investigators are now asking for the public's help for more information. Anthony was born in 1973 and lived part of his childhood in Malden with his mother, according to the Essex District Attorney's Office. He was reported missing from the Harbor School in Newbury in August 1988. In November 1992, skeletal remains were found partially buried in marsh grass off Route 95 South in Newburyport. An autopsy determined the body was a teenage boy, but no cause of death was declared. "For 32 years the State Police assigned to the Essex District Attorney's Office and the Newburyport Police attempted to identify the remains," the Essex DA said. "Although investigators developed significant leads, due to the limitations in DNA identification, they were unable to make a positive identification." On Thursday, the Essex DA announced that with the assistance of a private forensic laboratory in Texas using advanced DNA testing, the remains were positively identified as Anthony Angelli Rea. "Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from skeletal remains and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive DNA profile," the Essex DA said. "Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genealogical search to generate new investigative leads in the case, including the identification of potential relatives of the decedent." Anyone with information about Anthony Angelli Rea is asked to call the State Police Unresolved Case Unit at 855-MA-SOLVE.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
Human Remains Found on South Dakota Reservation Identified as Sioux Woman Who Disappeared Over 1 Year Ago
Authorities have identified a body found on a South Dakota reservation in January as a Sioux woman who disappeared more than a year ago. The remains of Michelle Elbow Shield were found in the town of Interior on the Pine Ridge Reservation in January, forensics lab Othram said in a statement. The Native American woman was last seen in Rapid City in October 2023 and reported missing a short time later, they added. The cause and manner of Elbow Shield's death are under investigation 'as well as the circumstances around her disappearance.' Rapid City Police Chief Don Hedrick said that authorities invested 'thousands of hours' in the investigation into Elbow Shield's disappearance, according to CBS affiliate KELO-TV. 'We hope this recent news can offer some sense of closure for her loved ones,' he added. Related: Human Remains Found in Submerged Car Identified as Utah Man Who Vanished on the Way to Family's Cabin in 2004 Nellie Bald Eagle, Elbow Shield's grandmother, previously told KELO-TV that it was not in her granddaughter's character to go somewhere without letting someone know. 'If she left someplace you know, she let somebody know. Or if she's farther away from town, she'll let somebody know,' she explained. 'And there was this friend of hers that told me she contacted him every day.' Initially, authorities were unable to identify Elbow Shield 'due to the condition of the woman's remains,' according to Othram. Hedrick said a break in the case came 'thanks to information shared by the public,' KELO-TV reported. Related: Human Remains Found in Okla. Park Identified as Man Missing for Nearly 1 Year: 'Profound Sadness' Othram said they worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit and the Rapid City Police Department to identify the remains through 'advanced DNA testing.' A comprehensive DNA profile was developed for Elbow Shield using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®, and a potential relative was eventually identified, the company said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The individual provided a sample, and Elbow Shield was identified a short time later, they added. Othram said it's 'the first publicly announced case in South Dakota where investigators used technology developed by Othram to identify an individual." Related: Missing Woman's Remains Found Over 4 Years After She Vanished From Mobile Home Park 'Something like this is heartbreaking for a family to go through,' Kristen Mittelman, chief development officer at Othram, said in a statement, KELO-TV reported. 'But being able to deliver answers is important so that law enforcement can get to the truth.' Hedrick said the police department plans 'to use all available combined resources in order to bring this case to a resolution.' 'We remain committed to fully investigating the circumstances surrounding her disappearance through collaboration with the involved public safety agencies in order to uphold justice in the case,' the sheriff explained. Police and Othram did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. Read the original article on People
