By John Q. Hosedrinker 
After more than 50 years, the identity of a woman found dead in Marlborough in 1974 has been confirmed using DNA analysis. Originally unidentified, the deceased was believed to be between 18 and 48 years old at the time of discovery. Through the efforts of the Brattleboro Police Department and DNA provided by her siblings, the woman was identified as Nancy Gale Erickson, who was 21 years old when she died. Before her death, Erickson worked as a nurse in Florida before abruptly leaving in 1973, with her last known employment being at the Brattleboro Retreat.
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After 50 years, NH authorities identify woman found dead in Marlborough in 1974: This is a headline that instantly grabs your attention, isn’t it? It’s a stark reminder of the persistence of unsolved mysteries and the enduring hope that families hold onto, even after decades of unanswered questions. This particular story centers around a young woman who was discovered deceased near Route 124 in Marlborough, New Hampshire, way back in 1974. The initial investigation, hampered by the limitations of the time, yielded little in the way of answers. The authorities estimated her age to be somewhere between 18 and 48, a pretty broad range, and the cause of death, of course, remained a complete mystery.
The real twist in this story is that the case went cold, completely silent, for nearly half a century. It wasn’t until 2021 that a glimmer of hope appeared. The family of Nancy Gale Erickson, having already reported her missing in the 1970s, once again reached out to the Brattleboro Police Department. This time, they provided DNA evidence, a game-changer in modern investigations. This crucial piece of the puzzle finally allowed investigators to match the unidentified remains to Nancy Erickson. It turns out she was only 21 years old when she died. Imagine the heartache of her family, waiting all those years, wondering what happened to their loved one.
It’s almost unbelievable, isn’t it, that a body found so close to where a missing person’s case was open wasn’t immediately connected? This highlights the limitations of forensic science back then. The rural area of Brattleboro, Vermont, and Keene, New Hampshire, shouldn’t have been teeming with missing persons, but somehow the pieces didn’t fall into place. I’m thrilled for her family that they have some closure, that they at least know what happened to Nancy, and where she is. It’s a bittersweet victory, though, as someone pointed out, because it’s a reminder of how long justice and recognition can be delayed. The fact that the family had to report her missing twice underscores the gaps that existed in older investigations.
The condition of the body, after being exposed to the elements for potentially a year, would undoubtedly have been severely deteriorated. Let’s be honest; it was likely a case of mostly skeletal remains. This makes determining the cause of death incredibly challenging, maybe impossible. 1970s forensics weren’t nearly as sophisticated as they are today. Back then, they didn’t have the DNA technology that has now become so crucial in solving cold cases.
However, in the modern age, detectives are revisiting cold cases from decades ago with the benefit of new technology and techniques. It’s inspiring to see this dedication to finding answers, even when it seems impossible. We’ve seen examples of this even in the UK, where a cold case from the 1960s was recently solved using DNA extracted from evidence. The perpetrator, now 92 years old, was convicted, and will spend the rest of his days in prison. These advancements give hope that these cases can find justice, no matter how long it takes.
Now, the unanswered question that lingers is the cause of Nancy Erickson’s death. The article doesn’t provide those answers, and it’s understandable why. After that much time and exposure to the elements, the clues are likely gone. Unless there’s something very obvious, like a bullet hole, or an obvious problem like an injury to her bones, it’s tough to pinpoint what happened. It’s a sobering reminder of the limitations, even with the best of modern science. I’d be very interested to know more about what prompted the family to re-file the missing persons report in 2021. I’m sure there were a lot of concerned friends and family members over the years who kept hoping for answers.