Update: Remains found in suitcase in 2016 identified as 29-year-old Gwinnett County woman

Update #4, 06/28/2019:

Gwinnett County Police Department is reporting that after a several-years-long investigation, the victim whose remains were found in a suitcase in Burford along I-985 on July 29, 2019, has been identified as Jessica Ashley Manchini (age 29 – at time of the bones discovery).

GCPD report that a tag from the suitcase appeared to have faded blue ink that was no longer visible to the human eye, but new technology used this month led the investigation to a missing person who was reported missing by her mother in December 2014. The identification has now been confirmed through dental and medical records, but the manner of death is still under investigation. She reportedly came from Pennsylvania originally but lived in Gwinnett County for the last few years of her life.

If anyone has any information to share in this case, they are asked to contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300.  To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com.  Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.  Case Number:  16-070200

Update: Jan. 10, 2017

Gwinnett County Police have released a forensic sketch and more detailed description of the remains of a woman found in a suitcase on the side of the I.985 in Gwinnett County last summer.

Description:

• Sex: Female
• Race: White, probably Asian Indian or Eastern Indian
• Height: 5’1” – 5’5” tall
• Age: 20-29 years old
• Some spinal fusion with slight Scoliosis (Female may not have known)
• Signs of healed left side rib injuries

GCPS reports that the remains do not match any missing person cases through Gwinnett County.  Despite numerous tips on missing persons, none were linked to this victim. Police say figuring out who she is will help determine the circumstances in which her body was abandoned along I-985.

“We feel confident that a family somewhere is missing this young woman. By identifying her, we can try to bring closure to a family while trying to solve this crime,” GCPD said in a press release.

You are asked to contact the Gwinnett County Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at 770-513-5300 with tips.  To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org.  Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.  Case Number:  16-070200

Update:

Gwinnett County Police Department is seeking help in identifying the remains of a female that were located in a suitcase in the Buford area of the county on July 29, 2016. They have released the type of clothing that the victim was wearing at the time of her death and have pictures of similar clothing. These are not the actual items, but stock images.

All credible leads will be investigated.  Though the Medical Examiner’s Office believes that the remains belong to a woman between 20-30 years old, the Criminal Investigations Division will not exclude any tips outside the specified age range. It’s not only vital that we solve the case, but it’s also important that we bring closure to a family who is missing their loved one.  By giving a name to the bones, we can begin the process of determining the events in her life that ultimately led to her death.

Gwinnett County Police Department

Update

Gwinnett Police report that the remains found in a suitcase along I-985 belong to a woman. According to the Medical Examiner’s Office, the remains are of a female between 20-30 years old who may be either mixed race (mostly white) or Hispanic. Based on the decomposition, she is thought to have died abut 6 months ago. The ME is still investigating to determine cause of death. A full set of remains were contained inside the suitcase.

Gwinnett County Police Department report that they have no missing persons cases that match that description but they are reaching out to neighboring agencies to see if the remains could match another case.

GCPD is still seeking information about the case and attempting to identify the remains. If you have any information you are asked to contact the Gwinnett County Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at 770-513-5300.  To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visitwww.crimestoppersatlanta.org.  Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.  Case Number:  16-070200

Initial story

Gwinnett County Police Department announce that a human skull and other bones were found Friday inside a suitcase that was located along I-985 northbound in Gwinnett County. The call came into the 911 Center at about 11 a.m. Friday and detectives with the Crime scene Unit and the Medical Examiner were dispatched to the scene.

According to a press release on the find, GCPD report that the suitcase was found about 80 yards into the wood by one of the construction workers currently working on the interstate north of Buford Drive for the Department of Transportation. He found it when he went about 80 yards into the woods to relieve himself. GCPD report that the suitcase appears to have been in the woods for an extended period of time. At this time no identification has been made on the bones.

“The lead detective will spend time researching missing person cases in Gwinnett County and other agencies to try to link these bones back to a specific person,” Cpl. Michele Pihera, public information officer with GCPD said in the press release. “Once the person has been identified, the detective will investigate the circumstances that led to this discovery.”

If anyone has any information to share in this case, they are asked to contact the Gwinnett County Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at 770-513-5300.  To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org<http://www.crimestoppersatlanta.org/.  Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.  Case Number:  16-070200