Human remains discovered in a wooded area of Chelan County have been identified as a Tacoma woman who disappeared nearly 40 years ago.
The remains were identified as Patricia Colyer, who was last seen on July 4, 1986, before being reported missing from Tacoma, according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and Chelan County Coroner’s Office.
The discovery was made on May 10, when deputies responded to a report of human remains near milepost 27 on Entiat River Road in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Detectives with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and specialists from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab processed the scene. The Chelan County Coroner’s Office also responded and recovered a partial human skull.
Following the discovery, investigators organized an extensive search of the surrounding area. Chelan County Emergency Management, sheriff’s detectives, search-and-rescue volunteers and specially trained K-9 teams searched for additional remains and evidence.
No other remains or evidence were found.
DNA Helps Solve Decades-Old Mystery
The partial cranium was sent to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, where it was examined by the state forensic anthropologist.
Colyer, who was 38 at the time of her disappearance, was ultimately identified through DNA analysis.
The identification was made possible because a relative submitted a DNA sample more than 20 years ago, Chelan County Coroner Earl Crowe said.
Authorities have since notified Colyer’s next of kin, who lives in Tacoma.
The identification brings answers to a mystery that remained unsolved for nearly four decades.
Unanswered Questions Remain
Investigators still do not know how Colyer died.
“Because the bone was only a partial cranium, a manner of death cannot be determined; the cause of death is listed as undetermined,” Crowe said.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation has been turned over to the Tacoma Police Department.
There are currently no suspects or investigative leads, according to authorities.
Anyone with information about Colyer’s disappearance is asked to contact the Tacoma Police Department.
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