Kern County authorities have identified a teenage murder victim discovered in a rural vineyard nearly 50 years ago as Michelle Louise Collier, a 15-year-old girl from Fresno.
Collier was last seen in February 1978. Her body was found by a tractor operator in a shallow grave in an Arvin vineyard in June of that year. At the time, DNA technology did not exist, and identification relied on fingerprints and dental records, which did not yield a match. The case remained unsolved for 48 years.
A breakthrough occurred in 2007 when coroner personnel discovered that DNA samples had not been collected. The remains were exhumed to obtain a DNA sample, which was entered into a database but still resulted in no match. The investigation was finally cracked open when a family member contributed to a commercial genealogy database, providing investigators with the crucial genetic information needed.
During a press conference Tuesday, the Kern County Sheriff’s Department officially named Collier. A family member, Cynthia Dunbar, spoke about the significance of finally being able to bring her loved one, referred to as “Shelley,” home. Dunbar expressed sorrow that Collier, "barely 15 years old, still a child with your whole life ahead of you," did not deserve to die in such a manner and apologized for not being able to protect her.
Dunbar also addressed Collier's killer, stating that law enforcement would find and hold them accountable, regardless of whether they are incarcerated or deceased. "May God bless your soul, because you are going to hell, if you’re not there already," she added.
The Kern County Sheriff’s office expressed gratitude for reuniting Collier with her family and restoring her name and providing long-awaited answers. The investigation into Collier's death remains open, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.