Drowned Teen Identified 55 Years Later

PECOS, TX – More than 50 years after tragically drowning at the Roper's Motel pool in Pecos, TX, police have finally identified the 17-year-old victim.

Back in 1966, motel guests found a dead teen girl floating in the deep end of the pool.

The man she had checked in at the hotel with had already left and no one was able to identify her, so her death became a cold case.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Pecos Police Department officially identified her as Jolaine Hemmy of Kansas.

By using information from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and genetics companies, Gene by Gene and Othram inc, police were able to identify her remains.

According to the Pecos Police Chief Lisa Tarango, modern technology was vital to identifying the remains.

“It absolutely played a huge role, at least in the identity of who she is," said Tarango. "I think if more people in this type of situation with lost family members or identified persons get involved in cases like this and cooperate and submit DNA, I think there would be a huge resolution of missing and unidentified person."

Last week Tarango visited one of Hemmy's sisters in Salina, Kansas, and let her know her sister's remains had been identified.

“Talking to the family last week was like talking to them 50 years ago. The emotion was just as well and just a solid,” said Tarango.

The investigation into her death remains active.