The remains of an 18-year-old female found in the basement of a Wilkinsburg home nearly 27 years ago have been identified.
The victim, known as Jane Doe since her discovery in 1999, has now been identified as Genelle Bradford.
Bradford was reported missing in the Wilkinsburg area on April 24, 1999. Her remains were discovered on June 28, 1999, by the new owner of the property at 604 North Avenue, after it had been abandoned for over a year. Her death was judged a homicide caused by ligature strangulation.
Bradford was identified thanks to a collaboration with Othram as part of a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania program, which involved creating a thorough DNA profile and identifying prospective family members.
The Allegheny County Police Department’s Homicide Unit, Wilkinsburg Police, and the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner have all worked tirelessly to identify the decedent.
Othram was able to create a complete DNA profile, which assisted in the identification of potential family relatives. Investigators from the Medical Examiner’s Office then discovered a family member, confirming the young woman’s identity as Bradford.
Mandy Tinkey, director of Forensic Services at the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner, was pleased with the outcome of the collaboration.
“We are thrilled that once again this partnership has allowed us to provide answers to a family that was left in the dark for so long,” Tinkey stated. “While the focus now shifts toward finding justice for Genelle, we are hopeful we can continue to provide answers for those impacted by the remaining cold cases we have shared with Othram.”
Allegheny County Police Superintendent Christopher Kearns underlined his department’s commitment to continuing investigations.
“This technology is a testament to why we never stop investigating open cases,” Kearns stated. “We are grateful for the efforts of everyone involved, and now that Genelle has been formally identified, we will continue to follow every lead available to us in the hopes of getting answers for her family.”
To date, County Police have not identified a suspect in Genelle’s killing. Detectives are requesting anyone with information to call the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can stay anonymous.
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