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The two images were derived from DNA taken from the victim using new technology to create a genealogical profile of the woman found dead on June 5, 1993.
That day, Bridgeport Police discovered a body on a vacant lot at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Railroad Avenue in the south end of Bridgeport. The body, of a woman between 25 to 35-years-old, was severely burned, and unidentifiable, police said.
The case has remained unsolved, and the victim has not been identified, Bridgeport Police said.
“In releasing these images, our hope is that someone will recognize the person depicted in the Snapshot composite and contact us,” said Capt. Brian Fitzgerald, head of the Detective Bureau. “Although we have some leads in this case, identifying the woman who was murdered will bring our investigators closer to determining what led to the death of this victim. We are determined to solve this case and bring closure the family of the woman victim.”
The department recently sought the services of Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company in Virginia that specializes in DNA phenotyping: the process of predicting physical appearance and ancestry from unidentified DNA evidence.
Law enforcement agencies use the company's Snapshot DNA phenotyping service to narrow suspect lists and generate leads in criminal investigations.
Using DNA evidence, Snapshot produces trait predictions for the person of interest. Individual predictions were made for the subject's ancestry, eye color, hair color, skin color, freckling, and face shape. By combining these, a Snapshot composite was produced depicting what the victim may have looked like.
The Bridgeport Police Department is the first law enforcement agency in Connecticut to utilize this type of DNA technology in a criminal investigation.
Anyone who recognizes the person depicted in the images or anyone who may have information related to the case to contact 203-576-8477.
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