FAIRFAX, Va. -- "It was so far off the road, some place that somebody would not normally be. The bones were found," said Detective Connie Bates.
Fairfax County Police said the skeletal remains were scattered several hundred yards in a dry creek bed, covered in mud, leaves and debris.
It was Fall 2001, when the human bones were found by construction workers building a retaining wall behind a Tyson's, Virginia apartment complex.
Detective Connie Bates said, "Those bones were there approximately two years."
The bones were degraded by weather and time. Personal items, a red yellow and tan striped sweater, a belt with white stitching, a yellow bangle bracelet, broken bracelet links and a ring were found there, too.
Detective Bates said the ring had distinctive characteristics.
"There's a green stone in the center and there's white stones on either side of the ring," she said.
Strands of red-dyed hair were also found along the crime scene, evidence that the remains were that of a young woman.
PHOTOS: Personal possessions of unidentified bones found 17 years ago in Fairfax Co.
There was no trace of DNA on the clothing or the costume jewelry. Police had very little to work with to identify exactly who she was or what she may look like.
"At the time, detectives were not able to compose a composite because the bone structure just wasn't intact enough to get a complete composite," Detective Bates said.
Her face was badly damaged. But, her bones did give detectives some clues. She was 5 feet, 4 inches tall, possibly African American, in her late teens or early 20s, and how she died.
"It appears that the individual died from blunt force trauma," said Detective Connie Bates.
Murdered and dumped in a ditch in the the woods near Westpark Drive in Fairfax, Va.
And, one other clue led cops to think she was not a homeless person, but someone from a home where her family took card of her.
Fairfax County Police Detective Bates said, "This individual did have orthodontal work done or extensive work. So, it appears that their teeth were well taken care of."
They were all good clues. But, not enough for detectives to piece together to give this African-American woman in her late teens to early 20s, with well cared for teeth, a name, an address or even a next of kin.
Their next step, DNA testing. So far, they haven't found a match.
"The most important thing is to bring answers to a family. And, we know that there's a family out there that are looking for their loved one and hve been since 2001," said Detective Bates.
If you have information on this case email Detective Bates at Connie.Bates@fairfaxcountygov. Or call (703) 246-7857.
