LEBANON, Pa. — Authorities have confirmed that the remains of a girl found hidden under brush and a plastic tarp in Pennsylvania woods over five decades ago belong to 14-year-old Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman. Ruth, who was known to her family as “Ruthie,” was last seen heading to school in the autumn of 1973. This identification was made public by state police on Thursday.

The identification process was made possible through genetic genealogy techniques, which were instrumental in ascertaining the identity of the badly decomposed body that was initially discovered by two game wardens on October 10, 1973, near Fort Indiantown Gap. While the state police have yet to determine the exact cause and manner of Ruth’s death, they continue to pursue leads in the investigation.

Trooper Ian Keck emphasized at a news conference that the identification of Ruth does not signify the conclusion of the investigation. He highlighted that understanding her daily life and the people she interacted with remains critical to solving the case.

Ruth’s remains were exhumed from a cemetery in 2016 and were ultimately identified only last month by investigators, as reported by state police. Her residence, located in York, is approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) away from the site where her remains were found.

In a heartfelt statement, family members expressed gratitude towards the investigators for their dedication, stating that their efforts have provided “some closure on questions that have lingered for the past 51 years.”