Authorities in Southern California have finally cracked a 48-year-old cold case involving a young boy who tragically lost his life in a devastating car accident.
The incident took place on June 2, 1978, when a Volkswagen Beetle carrying five teenagers unexpectedly veered off course while heading west on Arlington Street in Riverside, based on information from a spokesperson for the Riverside County Sheriff.
The unfortunate turn of events saw the Beetle cross the median and smash into a speeding SUV. According to Lt. Deirdre Vickers, the crash resulted in the deaths of four passengers from the Beetle.
The driver, who was the only survivor, told investigators at the time that he had met one of the deceased just the day before and did not know much about him. While three of the victims were identified, the family of the mystery teen was left in the dark.
Despite extensive investigations over the years, the identity of this victim remained a mystery until recently. On Wednesday, the Riverside Sheriff-Coroner’s Office announced that the teen who tragically died in that accident was 18-year-old Mark Alan Smith.
Smith hailed from Kansas, although it was unclear if he had moved to Riverside or was just visiting, as reported by Lone Wolf News and Media.
smith photo A photo shared by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office shows a smiling young man with light hair that just grazes his ears, dressed in a white shirt.
Working under Coroner Nancy Lissey, investigators came to a conclusion after exhuming Smith’s body recently.
Using advanced forensic genetic genealogy methods, the team was able to uncover the details needed to identify the victim, Vickers stated.
She noted that the coroner’s office made this unexpected breakthrough thanks in part to the Office of Justice Assistance’s Missing and Unidentified Remains Grant Program, which supported the exhumation process.
A nonprofit organization, GenGenies, financed the forensic work that ultimately enabled the identification of the victims.
“Thanks to these efforts, Mark Smith’s family can finally find some long-awaited closure,” Vickers remarked.
