Wake County, NC – After 57 years, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office has finally identified the victim in a 1968 homicide case that baffled investigators for decades. Officials confirmed that forensic genealogy led to the identification of the woman as Myrtle Holcomb, born in 1919.
According to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies discovered the burned remains of a woman in a field near Lake Wheeler Road and Ten Ten Road on April 28, 1968. Witnesses had reported a fire in the same area the night before. Despite extensive investigations and later DNA testing, the woman’s identity remained unknown for more than half a century.
Investigators renewed efforts in 2004 when new information pointed to a local resident, Robert Reagan, as a suspect, though no arrest was made due to his death in the 1990s. In 2024, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office partnered with Astrea Forensics and First Genes LLC, submitting a DNA sample that led to the identification of Holcomb through genetic genealogy.
Sheriff Willie Rowe said the discovery “provides long-sought answers” for Holcomb’s family and “reassurance that she has not been forgotten.” The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also assisted in the decades-long case.
Officials emphasized that the findings not only close a historic case but also showcase how forensic advancements continue to bring justice to unresolved crimes.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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