Nationwide — Kimberly Lawanda Carter, an African American woman who disappeared from Kansas City, Missouri, in 1984, has been identified 40 years later through advanced DNA testing. Police confirmed foul play is suspected, and a criminal investigation remains open.
Carter was 19 years old when she went missing on July 5, 1984. She left her children with a friend before heading to work, but never returned. That was the last time her family and friends saw her.
In August 1988, a construction crew discovered a skull in a remote area of eastern Independence. Investigators later recovered about 40 percent of a human skeleton, but the remains remained unidentified for decades.
In May 2024, new DNA testing indicated a potential familial match. By July, Independence Police confirmed the remains belonged to Carter.
“Foul play was suspected at the time of her disappearance and is suspected in her death,” the Independence Police Department said, according to KCTV5. “As such, a criminal investigation is ongoing.”
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the identification was made possible through state funding for forensic genealogy. Representative Tricia Byrnes of Wentzville helped secure $1.5 million in 2024 to support testing, with an additional $1.3 million allocated this year.
Since the program began, more than 50 cold cases have been submitted for testing. Carter’s case is among the first to provide long-awaited answers to a family after decades of uncertainty.
Independence Police said they are committed to seeking justice for Carter. Anyone with information is urged to contact the department or call the TIPS Hotline.
Source: BlackNews.com
