Tulare County Authorities Renew Push to Solve 17-Year-Old Cold Case

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Nearly two decades after 16-year-old Molly Ervin was found strangled to death in a field near Highway 99 in Tulare County, California, investigators are revisiting the unsolved 2008 killing. Authorities are now sending previously untested evidence, including Ervin's ring and necklace, to private labs for DNA analysis in hopes that new technology can provide the breakthrough they've been waiting for to crack this long-standing cold case.

Why it matters

Molly Ervin's murder has remained unsolved for 17 years, leaving her family without closure and the community seeking justice. This case highlights the potential of new forensic techniques, like familial DNA testing, to breathe new life into cold cases and provide answers for grieving families.

The details

Investigators believe Molly Ervin may have been killed elsewhere and her body later dumped at the rural site where it was found. The Tulare County Sheriff's Office is now sending previously untested evidence, including Ervin's ring and necklace, to private labs for DNA analysis, hoping to overcome longstanding backlogs at the California Department of Justice. Authorities are also considering familial DNA testing, which could identify potential relatives of a suspect.

• Molly Ervin's body was discovered near Avenue 264 and Road 94 just north of the City of Tulare in 2008.
• Ervin's murder has remained unsolved for nearly 17 years.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Investigators are considering using familial DNA testing to potentially identify a suspect's relatives, in addition to sending previously untested evidence to private labs for analysis.