Former Portsmouth Woman’s Body Identified After 52 Years
The body of a former Portsmouth woman has finally been identified, 52 years after she was murdered in Mohave County, Arizona.
According to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, “Colleen Audrey Rice was born on 3-17-31 in Portsmouth, Ohio, the daughter of James C. Rice and Flossie Truitt. She went to Portsmouth High School, from which an early photo of her was obtained. She married William Davis in 1946 in Ohio. She was estranged from her family, so little is known of her life or how she came to be in Arizona.”
What the Sheriff’s Office does know is that her body was discovered on January 23, 1971 in the desert. “The victim was located in the desert area near a dirt road, 2.2 miles east of US Hwy 93 on Hackberry Road. The victim was located in a canvas sack that had been tied at the top with a white cotton rope. The sack was a white cotton, loosely-woven sack, with the words “Deer-Pak Ames Harris Neville Co.,” printed in green.”
Recently, a cold case unit partnered with Othram Inc. to determine if advanced DNA testing and Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing could help give insight into the identity of this woman and the circumstances surrounding her untimely death. MCSO committed $1000 to the cause and asked for assistance from the community to give her justice and closure to her family who has been looking for her. Othram, Inc. set up a DNA Solves fund to raise the remaining $6,500 to have her DNA tested. The hope was that the community would open its heart and help to finally give her a name. The “Dear Gladys” DNA Solves page was advertised and the community opened its heart, funding the case in only 5 days.
On January 23, 2023, the victim was identified as Colleen Audrey Rice through the use of Forensic Genetic Genealogy, DNA testing of a relative confirmed this after countless hours of investigation into her family tree and contact with distant family relatives.
It is unknown if she had children, as no records could be found. The investigation is ongoing into the suspect and/or suspects responsible for her death. The MCSO continues to seek the public’s assistance with providing any information they may have on the later years of the victim’s life.
Anyone who has information regarding Colleen Audrey Rice or the incident is encouraged to contact the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office SIU at 928-753-0753 ext. 4408 or call the toll free number at 1-800-522-4312 and reference DR# 71-0383.