DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — DNA forensics have led to the positive identification of remains first found more than 30 years ago. DeKalb County officials revealed Friday that a DNA sample "conclusively confirmed" that the skeletal remains belonged to 22-year-old Rainbow Canyon King, a native of Tompkinsville, Kentucky.
The remains were first discovered by a hunter in a wooded area near the intersection of County Road 51 and Alabama Highway 227 in rural DeKalb County, Alabama, on December 21, 1991.
A decades-long investigation then followed, involving the efforts of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, the Alabama Department of Forensic Science, and the Fort Payne Police Department.
"In late 2022, a breakthrough emerged when the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office was contacted by Mobile County Sheriff's Office genealogy analyst Olivia McCarter, proposing the use of investigative genetic genealogy to potentially identify the remains," the Sheriff's Office said in a written statement.
DNA samples extracted from the remains were sent to Intermountain Forensics, a non-profit laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the tentative identification was made.
Surviving family members were located, contacted, and confirmed the identity.
"This identification is the result of tireless efforts and collaboration between multiple agencies and experts," DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said. it underscores the importance of innovative forensic techniques in resolving cold cases and providing closure to families."
