A decade after the skeletal remains of a young girl were found in Honolulu, Airport, DNA helped identify the missing child as Mary Sue Fink.
Fink was born more than 65 years ago on April 29, 1959, According to DNA Solve, But his remains were found in June 2014. After the remains were found they were transferred to the Honolulu Division of the Medical Examiner's Office. Authorities determined that the bones belonged to a child between the ages of 2 and 6, but at that time they were not able to match either case to the missing child.
DNA Resolves
The information was entered into Namus, a national database for missing persons that provides information to authorities searching for people across the country. Details were scarce, but in August 2024 – a decade after the young child was found – Honolulu Police and the Honolulu Department of Medical Examiner sent the remains to Othrum Labs in Texas for DNA testing.
Scientists at the laboratory were able to develop DNA extracts from the evidence to create a profile for the young girl using forensic-grade genome sequencing. During the testing phase investigators were able to identify a possible relative. The relative agreed to testing, and the potential relative's DNA profile was compared to the unknown girl's DNA profile – leading to identification.
Funding to test the DNA of the skeletal remains was made possible as part of the “525 Project”, an initiative focused on the identification of five hundred and twenty-five missing children. About 24% of the more than 24,400 missing cases in the NAMS database involve juveniles, Othrum Labs said in a statement.
No further information was provided by authorities about how Mary Sue Fink arrived in Hawaii, what caused her death, or why so many years passed between her death and the discovery of her skeletal remains. Authorities did not provide details of how they found the remains.
CBS News contacted Honolulu police and the medical examiner for more information.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.