Summary
In 1982 human remains were found in the woods off Deshong Drive, in unincorporated Stone Mountain. A female skull was collected along with some physical evidence at the scene. At the time, it was believed the remains had been out there for 6-10 years. Detectives were not able to identify the victim. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP77802.
In March 2021, after exhausting all available leads, Detective Dorminy in the Gwinnett Homicide Unit shipped the unidentified victim’s skull to Othram to have them generate a DNA profile. Othram used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive genealogy profile from the aged and degraded skeletal remains of the unidentified victim. The Othram genealogy team then returned investigative leads back to Detective Dorminy, which enabled him to connect the unidentified victim to a candidate daughter, Janis Adams. Detective Dorminy contacted Janis Adams who identified her mother as Marlene Standridge. On August 25, 2021 Janis Adams, her friend Jody Mallonee, her cousin Chamberlain Standridge, and her uncle Stanley Standridge (Marlene’s brother) came to Gwinnett Police Headquarters to speak with Detective Dorminy. At that meeting, a DNA sample was obtained from Janis Adams to confirm the DNA results were a match.
In September, Othram used KinSNP rapid familial testing to confirm that Janis Adams was in fact, a parent-child relationship match to Marlene Standridge. Decades after the inital discovery of the remains, Gwinnett Homicide Detectives continue to look for innovative technologies and new information to assist them in cases to help bring closure to victim’s families who have spent decades not knowing what happened to their loved ones. Othram was honored to assist in the investigation and is grateful to be able to help return answers to the family.
If anyone has any information to share in this case, or knew Marlene Standridge please contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.
Michael Vogen
Director of Case Management
Michael works with law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and Canada on “unsolvable“ cases that can benefit from advanced DNA testing methods. He helps these agencies use cutting edge DNA sequencing and new forensic techniques to develop investigative leads for their cases.