BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — Investigators have, at last, identified a woman who was found dead on June 21, 1979, near Highway 290 and FM 696. Kathy Ann Smith, then 22, was discovered to be the victim, according to the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office.

Earlier in the investigation, officers couldn’t catch any breaks in the case. However, in 1984, Henry Lee Lucas came forward to stake claim as her killer.

Sgt. James Miller was tasked with reanalyzing the case in May 2019. After the Texas Rangers’ previous investigation was examined, Smith’s burial place was uncovered. Investigators exhumed her body from the Elgin Cemetary, and the University of North Texas collected DNA samples from the remains.

Unfortunately, BCSO said the DNA wasn’t enough to establish an identity then. Investigators got in touch with Othram Labs, who could use forensic genealogy to identify Smith and they were willing to help.

Othram’s testing of the samples came up short, as they couldn’t establish a full DNA profile. Smith’s body was exhumed again in September 2022, with the Texas State University offering aid. When more samples were rounded up and sent to Othram, on Jan. 12, 2023, investigators found out that a full DNA profile was obtained.

With DNASolves.com, the forensic genealogy process was able to be funded. Othram reached out to BCSO on April 3, 2023, to report the information. Officers put together a family tree and locked in the identification of Smith.

Born July 19, 1956, Smith had a different name at birth. She was young when adopted. The family has been made aware of the whereabouts of Smith’s remains.