TROUP COUNTY, Ga. — After 16 years, the victim of a Troup County homicide has been identified, according to the sheriff's office on Wednesday.
It happened in December 2007; the Troup County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a report of a suspicious black bag near Whitfield Road and Stitcher Road. The bag, seemingly on fire, deputies said, contained partial human remains; the "hands, feet, and head were" missing.
Despite extensive efforts, the victim remained unidentified, leading to the case going cold with no significant leads, but with new technological advancements, the office has now identified the woman as 24-year-old Nicole Alston.
In early 2023, a renewed focus on cold cases prompted the Troup County Sheriff's Office to partner with Innovative Forensic Investigations in Emporia, VA, and Gene by Gene Laboratories in Houston, TX, for DNA analysis and genetic genealogy forensics. The conclusive results were sent to the GBI Crime Lab, which confirmed a positive DNA match.
Authorities said Alston is from Manhattan, New York, and family confirmed that she'd moved to the Atlanta area in July 2006 but lost contact with her soon after.
Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 706-883-1616 or Crime Stoppers at 706-812-1000.