The body of an unidentified teenager found in the Mississippi River near Clinton, Iowa, more than 50 years ago was recently identified as a Waukegan resident, according to a Clinton County Sheriff’s Office news release.
Cheryl Lynn Edwards was positively identified as the missing teen and homicide victim through forensic genealogy, according to the release.
Responding to a report of a dead teen in the Mississippi River north of Clinton on April 11, 1975, sheriff’s deputies found the girl, but she could not be identified, the release said. After an autopsy, the death was ruled a homicide.
Investigators continued to try to identify the body, but were unable to determine who she was until “advances in DNA technology provided a new opportunity to re-examine the evidence,” according to the release.
Edwards’ parents were the late Bernice and Leonard Edwards, previously of Waukegan, the release said. After identifying Edwards, police learned the Edwards family had searched for her ever since she went missing. Surviving family members were notified of her identification.
Results from the technology make it possible for the homicide investigation to proceed, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s office is actively trying to gather evidence to determine who was responsible for Edwards’ death.
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Waukegan Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations are seeking the public’s help with any information regarding Edwards’ life, disappearance and death.
