The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida has made a breakthrough in a cold case that has haunted the community for nearly two decades. The remains of a 16-year-old girl, Autumn McClure, who went missing in 2004, have been positively identified after being uncovered at a mobile home park in Ormond Beach.
Authorities used cutting-edge technology, including the ANDE Rapid DNA system, to develop a profile from DNA extracted from the bones found at the burial site. The DNA was then compared to the family of Autumn McClure, leading to the official identification.
McClure was reported missing by her grandmother in 2004, with her boyfriend initially claiming he dropped her off at a mall. However, further investigation revealed that she had actually gotten into a car with a woman named Jessica Freeman, who was in a romantic relationship with Brian Donley, Freeman’s boyfriend at the time.
In a shocking turn of events, Freeman confessed to authorities that she witnessed Donley killing McClure in their trailer. Donley passed away during a medical operation in 2022, but Freeman was granted immunity for her cooperation in the case.
The property where the trailer once stood has changed hands multiple times over the years, but the sheriff’s office was able to have it removed for excavation. Sheriff Mike Chitwood expressed his hope that Donley faced justice in the afterlife for his heinous actions.
The community is relieved to finally have closure in the case of Autumn McClure, and the sheriff’s office continues to investigate any leads that may shed light on the circumstances surrounding her tragic death.
