MISSOULA, Mont. (NMB) – The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office says that after 36 years, they are finally able to identify the remains located near Crystal Creek.
Authorities say through familial DNA testing, they have determined the remains to be of Janet Lee Lucas of Spokane, Washington.
Lucas, born in 1960, had last been seen in 1983 in Sandpoint, Idaho, before she went missing.
The investigation began back in September 1985 after a hunter came across remains.
A Cold Case Unit was hired earlier this year to help Missoula County attempt to identify the remains.
Now, authorities will see if they can figure out the circumstances that led to Lucas’ death, with a cold case homicide investigation underway.
