‘Sahara Sue Doe’ who was killed while searching for dad in 1979 is identified

LAS VEGAS (TCD) — Investigators recently identified a 19-year-old homicide victim whose body was found in Las Vegas nearly 44 years ago after she had left Ohio to find her father in California.

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, on Aug. 14, 1979, at around 9 p.m., a man discovered a female body in an open field near Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. Officers responded to the location and pronounced the woman dead.

In a news release, private DNA laboratory Othram said the victim was wearing jeans, a light blue-green button-up linen shirt, and multiple pieces of jewelry.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office determined her death to be a homicide, and despite their efforts, investigators were unable to identify the victim. The case went cold, and officials named the woman “Sahara Sue Doe.”

In September 2022, police submitted forensic evidence to Othram, who then launched a forensic genetic genealogy investigation to help identify the victim. Othram scientists built a DNA profile for the woman and developed investigative leads.

Detectives then reportedly spoke with potential family members and gathered DNA samples. According to police, through their investigative efforts, Othram positively identified Sahara Sue Doe as Gwenn Story on Nov. 15.

During an interview with Story’s family members, they reportedly said in the summer of 1979, Story left Cincinnati to go to California in search of her biological father. Story allegedly left Ohio with two male friends, who returned to Cincinnati in August 1979. The male friends reportedly told Story’s family members they left her behind in Las Vegas.

Family members had not heard from Story since she left Cincinnati. The Las Vegas Metro Police Department’s Homicide Cold Case Unit is investigating the case.

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