More than four decades after a young woman was killed in East Orange, New Jersey, investigators are using genetic genealogy in another attempt to learn her name and find the family she left behind.
The unidentified woman was found on Eppirt Street in Essex County on Sept. 14, 1984. New Jersey State Police now say she was murdered during a domestic violence incident. People who knew her at the time called her “L.A.” or “Loranda,” but authorities have never confirmed her legal identity. On the 42nd anniversary of her death, the New Jersey State Police renewed its request for information.
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She May Have Been As Young As 15
The current State Police appeal describes her as a young woman, while records maintained by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children estimate that she was between 15 and 20 years old when she died.
NCMEC reports that she had been dead only a few hours when she was found. She stood approximately 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed between 135 and 155 pounds. She had black hair, brown eyes, and pierced ears. Dental fillings indicated she had received dental care.
She had a scar about half an inch long beneath her left eye, a three-inch scar on the left side of her neck, and multiple scars along the inner sides of both forearms. Her fingernails were bitten extremely short.
She was fully clothed when found, wearing jeans, a gray sweater, socks, and a white bra.
Four rings were on her left hand: a silver-colored ring bearing the letter “Y,” a gold-colored ring containing 21 white stones, a plain gold-colored ring, and a black rubber ring.
The Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, which is assisting with the case, gives slightly different versions of the possible name associated with her. Its case information says she may have been known as “Larondra” or “Laranda,” along with the nickname “L.A.” State Police currently uses “Loranda.” None of those names has been confirmed as hers.
Her Remains Were Exhumed For New DNA Testing
The East Orange Police Department and Essex County Prosecutor’s Office were involved in the original investigation. Decades later, the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit joined the effort to establish her identity.
Investigators eventually located and exhumed her remains so a new DNA profile could be developed. With federal grant funding, State Police is now working with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, East Orange police and Ramapo College to pursue investigative genetic genealogy.
The process lets genealogists use DNA connections to identify biological relatives and build family trees that may eventually lead investigators to the unidentified person.
NCMEC has also created a facial reconstruction showing how she may have appeared in life.
Authorities have not publicly identified the person responsible for her death in the renewed appeal or said whether anyone was ever prosecuted for the 1984 killing.
The New Jersey State Police agency case number is 07842290.
Anyone who recognizes her, remembers someone called “L.A.,” “Loranda,” “Larondra” or “Laranda,” or has information that could help establish her identity can contact the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at 609-882-2000, ext. 2554, or missingpinformation@njsp.gov.
Please share this story about the unidentified young woman known as “L.A.” as investigators continue working to restore her identity and locate her family. She is our sister, and her life mattered.
Case Number: 07842290
Agency: New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit
Phone: 609-882-2000
Email: missingpinformation@njsp.gov
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