WILMINGTON, Del. – A collaborative effort between New Castle County Police, university researchers and local volunteers has finally solved a 15‑year‑old cold case. Human remains discovered in Sellers Park in 2011 have been identified as those of Hannah Graham Kleitz, a 29‑year‑old woman who died of a medical illness in 1907.
From discovery to DNA breakthrough
When officers first responded to the wooded area of Sellers Park in 2011, they recovered a skull and several bone fragments. Initial forensic analysis suggested the remains belonged to a female between 25 and 50 years old. Investigators created a DNA profile and entered it into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, but at the time no match was found.
In 2019 the New Castle County Cold Case Squad reopened the investigation, noting rapid advances in DNA technology. “From 2011 to 2019 there were a lot of scientific changes with DNA and science, and it was a good time to review this case,” said M/Cpl. Richard Chambers, the department’s public information officer.
Forensic art and genealogy help narrow the field
Detectives enlisted Joe Mullins, a forensic art professor at George Mason University, to produce a facial reconstruction using a 3D scan of the skull. Mullins described the process: “It’s just a skull on an armature. Then you slowly start to build up the muscles, the tissue‑depth markers, the nose, the lips; the features start to reveal themselves.” The reconstruction was shared with the public and with genealogy researchers.
Through investigative genealogy, detectives identified a potential match in January. A family member recalled that the bones had been illegally removed from the family mausoleum at Riverview Cemetery in 2002. The family’s recollection helped confirm that the remains were indeed those of Hannah Graham Kleitz.
Family closure and community response
Last week, detectives, Mullins and Kleitz’s descendants gathered at Riverview Cemetery to return the remains to their rightful resting place. “It was very emotional,” Chambers said. “It was good to see her back where she belonged.” The family expressed relief that a mystery that lingered for more than a century had finally been resolved.
“It’s certainly a win for Hannah’s family,” Mullins added. “We’re not leaving any rock unturned. Our cold‑case detectives – this is their job to review these cases and never give up hope, and we’re really proud of these detectives.”
Ongoing cold‑case work
New Castle County Police continue to work on a list of unsolved cases posted on their website, urging anyone with information to come forward. The successful identification of Kleitz’s remains demonstrates how modern forensic science, community involvement and persistent detective work can bring long‑awaited answers to families.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
