Her remains were found in Arizona by police Tuesday. Sharon Lee Gallegos was the victim. She was kidnapped on July 21, 1960.
Gallegos was playing in an alleyway behind her grandmother's home in Alamogordo in New Mexico when she was abducted by a man & a woman. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System indicates that the couple had been following the girl for several days. Gallegos was forced to drive a "dirty old green car" after she refused to accept candy and clothes from the woman, according to NAMUS.
Gallegos partially buried body was discovered 10 days later, near Highway 93 in Yavapai County Arizona. This is approximately 500 miles from Alamogordo. Yavapai County Lieutenant Tom Boelts reported Tuesday that the body was discovered by someone who was looking for rocks.
The extent of decay caused by the body's discovery made it difficult to identify or determine the age of its victim. Authorities at the time believed that the remains belonged to a 7-year old. Officials from Yavapai County were contacted by Alamogordo to verify that the remains belonged Gallegos. The incorrect age difference was also used to rule out a match.
Authorities could not also determine the cause of death at that time.
Authorities stated that although the Gallegos' body had been exhumed initially and DNA was extracted in 2015, technology at the time wasn't advanced enough to identify the remains. However, Gallegos' DNA was matched by authorities to relatives living in the United States within a few months.
Police stated that they are still searching for those responsible for Gallegos' killing and abduction in 1960.
Sheriff David Rhodes stated Tuesday that he hoped to never hear the name "Little Miss Nobody" again.
