Remains Found in Pa. Over 50 Years Ago Identified as Missing Girl, 14, Who 'Never Returned Home' from School

Mar. 15, 2025

Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman.Photo:PA State Police

PA State Police

Human remains found in Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania, in 1973 have been identified, officials in the state confirmed.

However, it wasn’t until her body was exhumed from a Lebanon County cemetery in 2016 for further analysis that a match was finally found.

He said with the assistance of Astraia Labs and the Pennsylvania State Police they were able to positively identify her body this past October, through genealogy gathered after her remains were exhumed.

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Lacey said Ruth was last seen “in the beginning of the 1973 school year,” noting that she had “left for school” one day and “never returned home.”

He noted that the Pennsylvania State Police were continuing their investigation into her death, and noted there was “some level of suspicion to her death” given the way she was found. He said the coroner’s office was still determining whether her death was a homicide.

Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman.PA State Police

State Trooper Ian Keck also shared at the press conference that identifying Ruth was a key step in the investigation, as it would help them get a better idea about who she “associated with” and her “different activities” leading up to her disappearance.

“Just because we identified her today, that doesn’t end our investigation,” Keck said, per theAssociated Press. “Learning about her everyday life and who she associated with is a key part of this investigation.”

Lacey also shared a statement from the girl’s family during the press conference, in which they expressed their “gratitude” for the work the officers have done in helping to identify Ruth and noted that “their work has provided us some closure on questions that have lingered for the past 51 years.”

The Pennsylvania State Police have asked anyone with any information on the case to contact them at 1-800-472-8477, or t psptipsemail@gmail.com.

source: people.com