Remains of Missing New York Teen Identified After 50 Years

A New York family is finally getting answers after a relative went missing 50 years ago thanks to advanced "genetic genealogy."

Remains Found in California in 1995

According to the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office, back in March of1995 partial skeletal remains were found off Highway 129 in Santa Cruz California, in a riverbed near Rogge Lane.

DNA testing at the time was able to determine that the remains were female, but the remains remained unknown.

New York Teens Remains Identified in California

Towards the end of March in 2025, almost 20 years to the date that they were found, the remains have been identified.

The Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office announced in a Facebook statement that the remains found in 1995 belong to Laura O’Malley, a 13-year-old from Queens, New York.

Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office, VIA Facebook

Between 2022 and 2023 the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office "used advanced genetic genealogy to identify potential family members." They also teamed up with a leader in forensic DNA analysis called Othram, that helped them develop new leads in the investigation.

What Happened to Missing New York Teen Laura O'Malley?

Not much is known about Laura O'Malley's disappearance.

The Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office reports that the teen was reported missing in New York back in August 1975. Details of when or under what circumstances O'Malley arrived in California are still unknown.

The details surrounding O'Malley's death are still under investigation and the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office is asking with anyone with information related to the case to call 831-471-1121

Have You Seen Them? 11 Kids Went Missing In New York State In February

The following list contains names and faces of 11 children reported missing in February 2025 across New York State. Do you have any information about them or have you seen them recently?

If so, please reach out to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; a private, non-profit 501 corporation whose mission is finding children, reducing child sexual exploitation, and preventing child victimization.

NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation.

If you'd like to report information about a missing child to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's 24-hour hotline at 800–THE–LOST (800–843–5678).

Gallery Credit: Brian Cody TSM Albany

6 Missing College Student Cold Cases In New York State

Gallery Credit: Yasmin Young

These 12 Vulnerable Adults Are Missing From Upstate New York

Each of these twelve individuals is missing from Upstate New York and is considered to be a vulnerable adult. If you know anything about any of them, please reach out to the New York Missing Persons Clearninghouse by calling 1-800-346-3543.

Gallery Credit: Traci Taylor