Advanced DNA Testing Helps Solve Decades-Old Cold Case of Missing Napa Woman

ABC7 ^ | Sunday, October 5, 2025 | Suzanne Phan

[nickcarraway]

By KGThanks to advanced DNA technology, law enforcement has solved a 12-year-old case. Authorities now say the unidentified human remains -- discovered more than a decade ago -- belong to Velma Louise Silva Lee of Napa.

Lee was born in 1936 and had been missing for years.

Advanced DNA technology opened the door and shed light on a case that has stumped investigators for more than a decade.

The mystery surrounding a human skull found in Redding 12 years ago has finally been solved. The family of Lee now has some answers.

"This person's name was finally realized after many, many years and that is Velma Lee," said Colby Laysone, with Othram.

The company says it specializes in forensic genetic genealogy to resolve unsolved murders, disappearances and identification.

Redding police say work crews first found the human remains near the Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation canal, buried in some blackberry bushes.

The Shasta County Coroner's Office said it was a female skull, but they had no idea who it was.

"Jane Doe" was an unsolved puzzle for 12 years -- until Othram got involved a few months ago.

"We operate a forensic lab that assists in the identification of these individuals," Laysone said.

ABC7 News talked with Laysone about how scientists used advanced forensic DNA testing to solve the case.

"We built that DNA profile from the skeletal remains. It was uploaded to genealogy databases where individuals have consented to allow law enforcement to use their information to solve crimes," Laysone said.

Scientists found a possible identity. After contacting possible relatives and even further DNA testing, they positively determined the remains belonged to Velma Louise Silva Lee of Napa. The identification of Lee makes the 70th case in California where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram.

"We are so, so thankful for playing a role in identifying Velma Lee, so that her family and law enforcement all have answers now," Laysone said.

Laysone says DNA evidence is a powerful clue in solving many mysteries.

"It allows family to have answers and law enforcement to have answers," Laysone said.

"There are tens of thousands of unidentified people whose remains are sitting in morgues are sitting on shelves, waiting to be identified, stories to be closed, families to be mended. Othram is so grateful to have a part in any of these cases," said Laysone.

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On July 25, 2025, a detective from the Redding Police Department contacted the decedent’s son, who explained that after many years without contact, a private investigator was hired to search for Velma. When the private investigator was unable to provide proof of life after 2003-2004 the family assumed she had passed away, and she was later declared legally deceased.

She was missing a long time before declared legally deceased. Born in 1936? Hope that it doesn't happen to me.

[Sawdring]

She must have frustrated someone.

[Chewbarkah]

I’m glad Velma Lee’s remains have been identified, but unless I missed something the case is far from solved. She didn’t bury herself by an irrigation canal. “Solved” means determining who, what, when, why, how, etc.