The woman at the center of a 1971 cold case homicide in Howard County was identified as a Pennsylvania mother, police said Thursday.

The identification of Sadie Belle Murray, who went by Sarah Belle Sharkey at the time of her death, also led her two living adult children to be reunited, Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der said. Murray was born on September 7, 1924, according to police.

"I looked for years, and then I gave up because nobody wants to tell me anything," her son Charles Sharkey said.

1971 cold case homicide

According to police records, Murray was found unconscious in a field off Route 99 in Woodstock in July 1971. She was hospitalized and treated for injuries stemming from an assault.

Murray never regained consciousness and died two months later, police said.

Accordin

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