Unidentified murder victim in California cold case linked to Lamar

(From the Lamar Police Department)

Recently the Lamar Police Department was contacted by the Newark CA police department in reference to an unsolved 1985 homicide. The victim there has never been identified and recent DNA genealogy testing links the victim to the Lamar Missouri area. 

DNA identified the victim as a descendant of Marian Marie (Helms / Thorburn) Richardson, who was born in Lamar in 1932 and is now deceased. It is likely that the victim was placed for adoption as an infant, possibly in the late 1940’s. 

The Lamar Police Department has been asked to share this information locally in hopes that someone may know something. 

If anyone has any information about the adoption or the identity of the victim, please reach out to the Newark Police Department at 501-578-4956 or if you want to speak to someone locally feel free to contact the Lamar Police Department at 417-682-3546 and speak to Chief Joe Moore.