1990 Homicide Victim Identified Via Genetic Genealogy

Date Added: September 29, 2023 9:34 am

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

1990 HOMICIDE VICTIM IDENTIFIED VIA GENETIC GENEALOGY 

More than 30 years after her remains were found in a wooded area of Daytona Beach, an unidentified homicide victim has been identified using forensic genetic genealogy.

On Thursday, Volusia sheriff’s detectives notified the family of Roberta “Bobbie” Lynn Weber (DOB 12/3/1957) of the new DNA match in the April 1990 homicide investigation.

Weber’s remains were found in the woods east of Clyde Morris Boulevard and about a mile and a half north of Strickland Range Road on April 23, 1990. A passerby using a trail through the woods discovered her.

Weber would have been 32 years old at the time. Her remains were not identifiable, and no clothing or personal property could be found. Her DNA was collected and entered into a national database, but there were no matches.

This year, the VSO Major Case Unit consulted with Othram Laboratories, a forensic genetic genealogy lab in Texas, and worked with the Medical Examiner’s Office to have the DNA samples submitted for analysis.

Several weeks later, Othram Labs advised they’d reconstructed the victim’s family tree using data from public genealogical sites. That family tree included the identity of a Missouri woman, likely the victim’s sister.

Detectives made contact with the woman in Missouri, who confirmed she hadn’t seen her sister Roberta since 1989. She indicated Roberta had divorced her husband in 1989 and disappeared. She believed she was either deceased or living in California.

Detectives also identified and contacted 3 of Roberta Weber’s children, who gave the same account of not seeing their mother since 1989.

The sister and a daughter provided DNA samples for comparison and confirmation, and on Thursday, Othram Labs confirmed they matched to Roberta “Bobbie” Lynn Weber, maiden name Headley.

The homicide remains unsolved, but with the victim finally identified, detectives are asking anyone who might have information to come forward. Contact the Major Case Unit at 386-254-1537 or via email at ColdCaseUnitTips@volusiasheriff.gov.