WILKINSBURG, PA — The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner has identified a homicide victim from 1999 as part of an ongoing County Police investigation.
On June 28, 1999, the remains of an unknown female were found in the basement of a home at 604 North Avenue.
The female’s remains were discovered by the new owner of the property after the home had been empty and abandoned for more than a year.
The initial autopsy completed by the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner ruled the victim’s death a homicide and cause of death was determined to be ligature strangulation.
The victim was a black female, about 5’5″ tall and believed to be between the ages of 18 and 20.
The Allegheny County Police Department’s Homicide Unit, Wilkinsburg Police, and the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner have worked to identify this decedent, known as Jane Doe, since her discovery in 1999.
As part of a grant provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Medical Examiner’s Office and County Police were able to partner with Othram in 2024 on more than a dozen local cases.
Othram was able to build a comprehensive DNA profile and identify potential family members of the decedent.
Investigators from the Medical Examiner’s Office were able to locate a potential family member and through these efforts, Othram was able to confirm the identity of the young woman as Genelle Bradford.
Genelle Bradford was 18 years old at the time of her death, and she was reported missing from the Wilkinsburg area on April 24, 1999.
To this date, County Police have not been able to identify a suspect in Genelle’s death.
Detectives continue to ask anyone with information to contact the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
Callers can remain anonymous.
