WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Police are releasing new information about a cold case dating back five decades.
State police say remains discovered in Luzerne County are those of 14-year-old Joan Dymond of Wilkes-Barre.
The teenager was last seen at Andover Street Park in Wilkes-Barre in 1969.
Her remains were found in November 2012 at a former coal mining operation in Newport Township.
People digging for relics made the discovery.
An examination determined that Dymond died from "foul play."
"After supper, she told her family she was going over to the Andover Street Park in Wilkes-Barre, and she never returned. That was the last time she was ever seen by her family," said Trooper Andrew Morgantini, the state police lead investigator on this case.
Fast forward to November 17, 2012, state police provided photos showing where human remains were found at a former coal mining operation near Nanticoke. The remains went unidentified until now.
"I know a lot of people believe that cases are forgotten, and this is truly evidence that cases are not forgotten," said Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce.
A genetic genealogy company was able to identify the remains as belonging to Joan. During a news conference at the state police barracks near Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, her family said they never thought this day would come.
"It's a shame. Somebody so young with her whole life ahead of her was taken," said Joan's sister Suzanne Estock. "She was a sweet girl. She didn't deserve what happened to her."
"I was pregnant, due in August, and we spoke, she was excited about being an aunt and me having a baby, coming to visit, and maybe helping me out. Then she just disappeared," Estock added.
Investigators would not say how Joan died, but they call her death a homicide. State police say they have no suspects but hope former classmates may be able to help catch her killer.
"We are particularly interested in interviewing the graduating class of 1973 from Meyers High School — that would have been Joan's graduating class — along with anyone who attended St. Boniface's with Joan prior to her going to high school," Trooper Morgantini said.
Anyone with information regarding her disappearance should call the Shickshinny station at 570-542-4117.
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