Investigators in Suffolk County, New York, have announced the identities of six people whose remains went unidentified for decades, including three homicide victims whose cases date back nearly 50 years.
The identifications were announced on November 12, 2026, by Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney and the Suffolk County Police Department.
The cases span from 1976 to 1999 and were investigated through the county's Cold Case Task Force, which combines prosecutorial and police investigative resources.
Among the individuals identified was Ramon Perez y Rivera, previously known as Raymond Doe.
His body was discovered in Deer Park on November 27, 1976, with severe burns and a fatal gunshot wound. A tattoo bearing the name Raymond provided investigators with an early clue, but his identity remained unknown.
Authorities subsequently established that he was originally from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and was approximately 41 years old when he died.
Another victim, Antoinette Rugg, was identified nearly 48 years after her skeletal remains were discovered at Heckscher State Park in April 1978.
Investigators determined that Rugg, who was 26 years old, had died from strangulation. Her identity had remained unknown despite the original homicide investigation.
The announcement also included Sofia Margherita Marrone, previously known as Montauk Mary, whose body was discovered in Montauk in 1978.
Three additional people were identified: Kyong-Ok Kim, Omelios Steward, and Andreas Kupke.
According to prosecutors, advanced DNA analysis helped establish the identities of three of the victims through next-generation sequencing and investigative genetic genealogy.
Traditional autosomal DNA profiles had previously been developed from evidence and searched through the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), without producing identifying matches.
Investigators subsequently used additional genetic analysis to develop information suitable for investigating biological relationships.
Forensic investigative genetic genealogy can combine genetic profiles with genealogical records to identify potential relatives and reconstruct family connections.
These leads require further investigation and appropriate confirmation.
In Rivera's case, relatives voluntarily provided DNA samples, allowing investigators to confirm his identity through kinship testing.
The identification effort demonstrates how preserved biological evidence can remain valuable long after the original investigation.
However, identifying a deceased person does not establish who caused their death or resolve the circumstances of a homicide.
Authorities have not announced criminal charges arising from the six identifications.
Investigators continue seeking information about the deaths and have emphasized the importance of expanding access to advanced forensic DNA technologies.
The announcement illustrates how developments in DNA sequencing, genealogical research, and conventional kinship analysis can work together to restore identities to people who remained unknown for generations.