DNA technology identifies New Orleans homicide victim as MS Coast native, police say
Through the use of advanced DNA testing, authorities have identified the victim of a cold case homicide in New Orleans as a Gulfport native and mother of two, Lelia Ann May Malley, according to the New Orleans Police Department.
At a news conference Wednesday, New Orleans police and the FBI identified Malley as a homicide victim found 22 years ago in a field in the 1200 block of Algiers.
She had no identification on her at the time of her death, and the investigation into her cold case killing remains unsolved.
Malley mostly stayed in New Orleans, according to the family.
“What she did and what she was into is not something I will release right now to maintain the integrity of the investigation,” NOPD homicide detective Ryan Aucoin said of the ongoing investigation. “We are sure someone from New Orleans will recognize her. They may not recognize the picture because it is older, but they would recognize the name for sure.”
At the time of Malley’s death, she was estranged from her family.
Now that her identity is known, the FBI and New Orleans police are asking for tips from people who may have known Malley and the events surrounding her death.
May’s daughter, Kimberly Bergeron, last saw her mom in 2000. Now, she is asking the public to help authorities solve the cold case killing.
“I’m asking if anyone has any information about a suspect or has information about her or who had known her in the past or anything about this investigation to come forward,” Bergeron said at the press conference. “I think it is amazing that this developed over this long period of a time. If this would not have come about, we probably would have never known what happened to her.”
Bergeron also thanked authorities for their work in identifying her mother.
“Without this development, we probably would never find out what happened to her,” she said.
NOPD Deputy Superintendent Ryan Lubrano said police can now “move forward with this investigation and work to find closure for this family.”
“The FBI is proud to have partnered with NOPD in this case and finally bring some measure of comfort to Lelia’s family,” said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “We are certainly hopeful that this first for FBI New Orleans leads to many more answers for families like this one.”
In addition to the FBI, NOPD was aided in this identification by LSU FACES Lab, NamUs, the North Louisiana Crime Lab and the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office.
Detectives did not wish to elaborate on what they have found so far in their investigation.
To report information about Malley, call New Orleans police at 504-658-5300 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.
This story was originally published October 3, 2024 at 11:33 AM.
