NEWS
Albuquerque police identify woman after 35 years
DNA and forensic genealogy confirm woman long known only as 'Becca Doe' was Becca Mallekoote, who died by suicide in a Northeast Albuquerque motel room in 1991
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For 35 years, she was known only as Becca Doe. But after decades of investigation, the once-anonymous woman has been identified as Becca Mallekoote, who went missing in 1991.
The Albuquerque Police Department announced her identity Wednesday, which would have been her 54th birthday, APD spokesperson Rebecca Atkins said.
"This case is a testament to our department's commitment to never giving up on a case, no matter how much time has passed," interim Chief Cecily Barker said. "By continuing to utilize advancements in technology and forensic genealogy, we are able to provide answers that were once thought impossible."
The case began in June 1991 after staff at the Super 8 Motel — located at 2500 University NE in Albuquerque — discovered a deceased woman inside the bathtub of a hotel room.
According to the news release, the room had been locked from the inside and an autopsy determined the cause of death was suicide. However, the woman’s identity remained unknown.
“Despite having a suitcase of clothing and $500 in cash, she carried no identification,” Atkins said.
Police used databases like the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System and fingerprints to follow leads across the nation and even into Canada for decades, but their search was fruitless, according to the release.
In December, the investigation reached a turning point after an employee with the Office of the Medical Investigator reached out to a college in New Jersey to conduct a genealogy investigation, in which forensic data combined with a DNA analysis could potentially identify the woman.
In January, investigators found Mallekoote’s half-brother and stepfather in California and her stepfather confirmed he had last seen Mallekoote in 1991 when she left Los Angeles, Atkins said.
A sergeant with the Ventura Police Department in California located Mallekoote’s brother and he provided a DNA sample, which confirmed that Mallekote was his half-sister.
“Becca’s identity was discovered through collaboration between multiple agencies and advancing technology,” said Heather Jarrell, OMI chief medical examiner. “With this kind of partnership and a new frontier of forensic genealogy, I’m optimistic that we will be able to provide more answers to more families who mysteriously lost a loved one.”
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
