Human remains found on a reservation have been identified as belonging to a woman who went missing over one year ago – by using advanced genome sequencing.
Michelle Elbow Shield had not been seen since October 2023, according to officials.
The 26-year-old was last spotted in Rapid City and was reported missing a short time after her final sighting.
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At the time, her grandmother told KELO-TV that it was not like her granddaughter to vanish without telling anyone her whereabouts.
Following the discovery, Michelle’s death and the details surrounding her disappearance are now under investigation.
The remains were found at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, reports Need To Know.
According to the forensics lab Othram, authorities were initially unable to identify who they belonged to due to their condition.
The lab worked alongside the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit as well as the Rapid City Police Department to identify the remains using advanced DNA testing.
A DNA profile was developed for Michelle, who was from South Dakota, using forensic-grade genome sequencing.
Othram has stated that this allowed for the identification of potential relatives so that the remains could be recognised.
An individual provided a sample, leading to the discovery that Michelle had been found.
Don Hedrick, the Rapid City police chief, said that authorities had invested thousands of hours in the investigation into Michelle’s disappearance.
Police are now investigating so that they can bring this case to a close, as reported by Need To Know.
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