Homicide victim identified five decades later

KINGMAN – A murder victim whose body was located in the Kingman area more than a half-century ago has been positively identified through DNA testing. The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said that a forensic genetic genealogical match with one of her relatives has determined the victim to be Colleen Audrey Rice.

Rice was born in 1931 in Portsmouth, Ohio and was estranged from her family prior to her death. She would have been 39 years old when her body was located on Hackberry Road, a little more than two miles east of Hwy. 93 on Jan. 23, 1971.

“The victim was located in a canvas sack that had been tied at the top with a white cotton rope,” an MCSO news release said. “The sack was a white cotton, loosely-woven sack, with the words `Deer-Pak Ames Harris Neville Co.,” printed in green.”

The cold case homicide remains under investigation and the MCSO continues seeking public assistance to determine who is responsible for her death. Anyone who had contact with Rice or has information about the case is encouraged to call the MCSO (928-753-0753 or toll free 800-522-4312.

Dave Hawkins