DNA Uncovers Identity and Reunites Siblings After Decades
A Decades-Old Mystery Solved by Science
In a remarkable breakthrough, advancements in DNA technology have finally put a name to a face in a cold case that has puzzled investigators for over 50 years. Howard County's oldest unsolved homicide, dating back to 1971, involved a victim known only as Jane Doe. Thanks to the power of genetic genealogy, her identity has been uncovered, bringing a partial resolution to a long-standing mystery.
"The genetic genealogy was critical because, for all these years, we had no way to link this Jane Doe to anyone," explained Howard County police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn. The police department held a news conference to announce the significant findings, which not only identified the victim but also led to an even more astonishing discovery.
Identifying Sadie Belle Murray
The victim has been identified as Sadie Belle Murray, who was a 47-year-old mother of two at the time of her death. In 1971, Murray was found brutally assaulted in a field behind a snowball stand along Maryland Route 99 in Woodstock. She tragically passed away in a hospital two months later. For five decades, her case remained cold and her identity unknown, but the investigation has now given her back her name.
An Unexpected Family Reunion
The most incredible part of this story extends beyond the identification. The investigation led detectives to Sadie's two children, who were unaware of their mother's fate and, remarkably, of each other's existence. Mildred Marie Cantwell, 83, of Springfield, Illinois, and her brother Charles Sharkey, 79, who lives near Cleveland, were connected for the first time because of this cold case.
A Brother's Lifelong Search Comes to an End
For Charles Sharkey, the news was life-altering. "I don't remember having any siblings, any parents or anything," he shared in a phone interview. "So (my sister and I are) talking, texting each other. The bottom line is it made me very happy."
Sharkey's life story is one of incredible resilience. He grew up in an orphanage without ever having a family or celebrating a birthday with a cake. After serving in the military, he turned his life around, earning five degrees and building a happy life with his wife. He had spent years searching for any trace of his family, but his hopes were dashed when a fire destroyed the records from his youth. He never expected to find anything.
Now, thanks to the tireless work of cold case detectives, he has found both his mother and the sister he never knew he had.
"My hope is to meet her and we get together and see each other and know we have each other."
Sharkey expressed immense gratitude for the investigators, believing that everything happens for a reason. While the homicide of Sadie Belle Murray remains unsolved, this breakthrough has brought a family together and given a name back to a victim long lost to time.
