After 4 decades, Montana shooting victim is identified through DNA: Our family is broken-hearted
May 11, 2021 / 6:37 AM / AP Tracing family trees to catch killers
Officials in western Montana, working with a private DNA lab in Texas, have identified the victim of an early 1980s homicide and are now investigating to see if she may have died at the hands of a suspected serial killer, the Missoula County Sheriff s Office said Monday.
DNA obtained from the skeletonized remains, which were found in Missoula County in September 1985, was compared to commercial databases and was traced to the family of Janet Lee Lucas of Spokane, Washington. Lucas was 23 when she was last seen in Sandpoint, Idaho in the summer of 1983.
Bullet-ridden victim of serial killer dubbed Missoula Mauler is revealed to be mom-of-one, 23, thanks to DNA testing - 36 years after her body was found in Montana creek
Janet Lee Lucas, from Washington state, identified as homicide victim dubbed Christy Crystal Creek whose skeletal remains were found in Montana in 1985
Officials harnessed DNA analysis and genealogical research to identify remains
Lucas, a mother of one, was 23 when she was last seen alive in Idaho in 1983; bear hunter found her remains in Missoula, Montana, two years later
Officials are trying to determine whether Lucas had been murdered by suspected serial killer Wayne Nance, dubbed Missoula Mauler
Alberto LuperonMay 11th, 2021, 5:23 pm
Janet Lee Lucas in 1979
Human remains discovered in 1985 by a hunter in Missoula County, Montana, have finally been identified. Authorities on Monday announced that the remains belonged to
Janet Lee Lucas, who was from Spokane, Washington, about three hours away.
Deputies are looking to see if Lucas might be the victim of a suspected and long-dead serial killer.
A bear hunter found the remains on September 9, 1985 near Crystal Creek, deputies said. Investigators could not figure out her identity. She became known as “Christy Crystal Creek” because of where she was discovered.
The remains were skeletonized.
When the Lucas was found, investigators identified shell fragments related to a .32 caliber firearm, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer
1980s Montana shooting victim identified through DNA
May 10, 2021
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MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) Officials in western Montana, working with a private DNA lab in Texas, have identified the victim of an early 1980s homicide and are now investigating to see if she may have died at the hands of a suspected serial killer, the Missoula County Sheriff s Office said Monday.
DNA obtained from the skeletonized remains, which were found in Missoula County in September 1985, was compared to commercial databases and was traced to the family of Janet Lee Lucas of Spokane, Washington. Lucas was 23 when she was last seen in Sandpoint, Idaho in the summer of 1983.
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The building has been reduced to a pile of rubble. The department moved out of the building in 2018; it had significant structural damage at the time.
Mayor Jon Billups said the city had been looking into options to tear it down when developer Merge LLC inquired about taking the lot as part of a project to build housing downtown.
The neighboring building, an old Moose Lodge, was also purchased to be torn down as part of the project.
The two old buildings will be replaced with a brand new structure that will include apartments and commercial space. Billups said the city agreed to pay a portion of the demolition cost, and the company will also be able to take advantage of Tax Increment Financing, or TIF to recoup some of their costs.