Woman Found Shot Dead in Grundy County in 1976 Finally Identified – NBC Chicago

After nearly 50 years, part of a murder mystery has been solved as authorities have released the identity of a woman found shot to death in Grundy County.

The Grundy County Coroner's Office has identified the young woman, found in a farm field in October 1976, as JoAnn Vicky Smith.

On Thursday, for the first time, her family was able to meet those who worked tirelessly to reunite them with their sister.

“I'm happy to have closure…sad about the outcome,” said her sister Phyllis Harris.

“We always treated Vicky like she was alive somewhere, but that’s not the case anymore,” her brother Ronnie Smith said.

On October 2, 1976, a young black woman was found dumped in a ditch in the small village of Seneca. She had been shot in the head, and initial efforts to identify her were unsuccessful. After more than a month, the victim was buried in an unmarked grave, and several years ago, the coroner brought the case back to light, hoping that new technology would help bring closure to her unknown family.

“I felt an obligation and a responsibility,” said Grundy County Coroner John Callahan. “She’s someone’s daughter, someone’s sister. »

The case was reopened in 2017. In 2018, his remains were exhumed, DNA was collected and a profile was established.

“There are a lot of resources to work with at this point that weren't available in 1976,” said Brandon Johnson, deputy chief coroner.

Johnson took matters into his own hands in this matter. Finding no DNA matches, he enlisted the help of the DNA Project, which uses genetic genealogy to help solve long-standing mysteries.

“They started working on an extended family tree, which was difficult,” he said.

The process was complicated by the fact that Vicky was adopted, but eventually a close match was identified, leading them to Cincinnati.

“I located what turned out to be a foster brother in South Carolina and called him out of the blue,” Johnson said.

It's a call Ronnie Smith will never forget.

He was a little boy when his older sister, who was 20 at the time, wandered away from their Cincinnati home one night – never to be seen alive again.

“It was just incredible, after all these years, that this all happened,” he said.

A celebration of JoAnn Vicky Smith's life will be held this weekend in Ohio, but many questions remain.

“If his identity can be pieced together, maybe they can figure out who did this.” Maybe that part can be put back together too,” Smith said.

The family has organized an online fundraiser to help cover funeral costs.