NEW LONDON — In 2016, a New London resident discovered 72 human bones while renovating a recently purchased old garage.



The young girl or woman who those remains belong to still has not been identified.



Now, The Porchlight Project is working with the New London Police Department to uncover the identity of the young woman. The nonprofit will pay approximately $4,000 for new DNA testing and genetic genealogy conducted by Bode Technology.



"The bones in New London belong to someone’s child, a member of someone’s family, however old they may be," said James Renner, president of The Porchlight Project, in a prepared statement. "Was she a victim of an unsolved crime? Is she a missing person? Using genetic genealogy, we can finally give her a name."



Forensic anthropologist Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat analyzed the New London remains in his lab at Mercyhurst University in 2016 and determined the bones were likely from a young woman between the ages of 13 and 20, who stood between 4 feet, 10 inches and 5-6 tall.



The Porchlight Project is a young organization; this is only the second case it’s financed. Last fall, the nonprofit also raised about $4,000 to fund an investigation using forensic genealogy, an extremely new field. The Porchlight Project paid to investigate DNA found on the body of an unsolved murder victim from 1978, 17-year-old Barbara Blatnik.



Renner said the investigators two weeks ago successfully completed separating the suspect’s DNA profile from Blatnik’s DNA profile in a genetic sample found under her fingernails. He said the genetic genealogists already have been able to identify the nationality of the suspect, thus narrowing down the wide suspect pool.



"I like our chances with the Blatnik case," Renner said. "I think we’ll have some information to share very soon."



Genetic genealogy is a method on the bleeding edge of forensics. The first court case involving a suspect identified with this technique only went to court this past summer.



Genetic genealogists use websites like 23andMe that allow users to upload their DNA profiles to find relatives. The investigators use a DNA sample to find relatives of suspects — or in this case, a victim — and piece together a family tree that eventually leads them to the suspects themselves. With this method, many Americans — specifically, most white Americans — can be identified through their family tree, according to a study published in Science Magazine.



"Genetic genealogy is the first new tool we’ve had in investigating since the discovery of DNA," Renner said. "It’s the reason all these cold cases are being solved."



Michael J. Marko, New London chief of police, said in a prepared statement that he is grateful for the assistance from The Porchlight Project. Renner said it can be difficult to fund this type of investigation through traditional channels.



"I am hopeful that genetic technology will solve this mystery and assist us in our investigation," Marko said. "The New London Police Department is committed to bringing closure to a family member or relative involving the remains of this young lady."