Albuquerque police, FBI use genealogy to ID women in separate cold cases

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque Police Department and FBI have identified the victims from two decades-old cold cases using genealogy research. In January 1994, crews cleaning the road along I-40 found a woman’s skeletal remains. Investigators created a sketch of the victim but couldn’t identify her. Now, APD says DNA testing has helped investigators track down family who identified the victim as Carmela Vivian Duran. Police said the family lost contact with Duran in the 1980s.

APD has also identified remains found in a shallow grave near Broadway and Murray more than a decade ago. DNA research linked investigators to family members of Terry Matthews. Police said she got married in February 2006 but vanished that summer.

Anyone with information on either case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 505-843-STOP.

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