They eventually found her surviving family in New York as a result of the quest.
The remains belonged to Laura O’Malley, the child who disappeared over 50 years ago, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office announced in March 2025.
After five decades, a family finds closure.
For Laura’s family, the identification gave long-needed closure even though it also caused pain.
The Sheriff’s Office said, “We hope this discovery answers some long-standing questions for her family, even though it does not lessen the pain of her loss.”
Laura’s loved ones pondered what had occurred for decades. Even though there are still many unanswered questions, they have at last an answer.
