She was found in 1978 and her gravestone read 'Unknown'. Now, the 'Granby Girl' has a name.

Saleen Martin, USA TODAY
·3 min read

An unidentified woman whose gravestone read "Unknown" for decades now has a name, Massachusetts State Police announced Monday.

The remains of the woman, Patricia Ann Tucker, were found on Nov. 15, 1978 buried under leaves on a logging road off in Granby, Massachusetts, about 15 miles north of Springfield.

For years, the unnamed woman was called "Granby Girl" and while her remains have been identified, her killer still remains unknown. Police have a person of interest in mind but the man, her late husband, is now deceased.

She was identified on Jan. 30. the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.

A photo of Patricia Ann Tucker. She married a man named Gerald Coleman in 1977 in Middletown, Connecticut. Her remains were found in November 1978 but weren't identified until decades later.
A photo of Patricia Ann Tucker. She married a man named Gerald Coleman in 1977 in Middletown, Connecticut. Her remains were found in November 1978 but weren't identified until decades later.

“While it’s satisfying to finally know who ‘Granby Girl’ actually was, the investigation won’t stop until we identify her killer and bring the family an additional measure of closure and justice,” said First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne in a news release. “This investigation has spanned decades, and will continue until each and every possible lead is explored.”

Identified: 'Boy in the Box' gets grave marker in Philadelphia on what would have been his 70th birthday

Missing: An Alabama college student disappeared in 1976. His remains were identified 47 years later.

How did police identify 'Granby Girl'?

Once Tucker's remains were discovered, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined her cause of death was a bullet wound to the temple and the manner of death was homicide.

According to the office, Tucker had been dead since at least June of 1978. When she died, she was between 19 and 27 years old.

Patricia Ann Tucker with her first husband, Gary Heckman. She later married a man named Gerald Coleman in 1977 in Middletown, Connecticut. Her remains were found in November 1978 but weren't identified until decades later.
Patricia Ann Tucker with her first husband, Gary Heckman. She later married a man named Gerald Coleman in 1977 in Middletown, Connecticut. Her remains were found in November 1978 but weren't identified until decades later.

Recent advances in DNA technology allowed authorities to explore new methods to ID Tucker, police said. About two years ago, Massachusetts authorities reached out to Othram, a private forensic laboratory based in Houston, to solve the case.

Othram got Tucker’s DNA profile and used forensic genetic genealogy to identify a woman in Maryland who was likely related to her. Police spoke to the woman, who led them to her son, Matthew Dale.

Authorities tied Dale's DNA to Tucker's, resulting in a 100% parent/child match.

Now an adult, Tucker’s son was five years old when she disappeared, state police said.

During a press conference Monday, First Assistant District Attorney Gagne read a statement from Tucker's son.

The gravesite of Patricia Ann Tucker. She married a man named Gerald Coleman in 1977 in Middletown, Connecticut. Her remains were found in November 1978 but weren't identified until decades later.
The gravesite of Patricia Ann Tucker. She married a man named Gerald Coleman in 1977 in Middletown, Connecticut. Her remains were found in November 1978 but weren't identified until decades later.

"First, I would like to say thank you to everyone in trying to identify my mother and wrapping your arms around her, especially the community of Granby," the statement read. "Thank you for never giving up on her. At least I have some answers now after 44 years. It's a lot to process, but hopefully, closure can begin now. Thank you again."

Who was Patricia Ann Tucker?

Tucker was born on July 28, 1950. She later married and was known as Patricia Heckman, Patricia Dale, and when she died, Patricia Coleman, police said.

Tucker was married to Gerald Coleman when she died, state police said. The two married in 1977 in Middletown, Connecticut and lived in East Hampton, Connecticut when she died.

Gerald Coleman, a person of interest in the death of Patricia Ann Tucker. The pair married in 1977 in Middletown, Connecticut and lived in East Hampton, Connecticut. Her remains were found in November 1978 but weren't identified until decades later.
Gerald Coleman, a person of interest in the death of Patricia Ann Tucker. The pair married in 1977 in Middletown, Connecticut and lived in East Hampton, Connecticut. Her remains were found in November 1978 but weren't identified until decades later.

Her husband, Gerald Coleman, never reported her missing and died in 1996 at a Massachusetts state prison while serving time for rape, indecent assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757 – and loves all things horror, witches, Christmas, and food. Follow her on Twitter at @Saleen_Martin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Massachusetts woman found dead in 1978 identified as missing mother