Authorities Identify Woman Believed to Be Victim of Samuel Little, America's Most Prolific Serial Killer

 

Sofia Flower

Biology

Current Event

Riess, Rebekah, and Christina Maxouris. “Authorities Identify Woman Believed to Be Victim of Samuel Little, America's Most Prolific Serial Killer.” CNN, Cable News Network, 22 Sept. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/09/22/us/escatawpa-jane-doe-remains-identified-samuel-little-victim/index.html. 

            Victim Clara Birdlong’s body was found 44 years after hunters discovered human remains near a Mississippi highway killed by one of the most infamous serial killers, Samuel Little. Prior to Little’s death at age 80 he confessed to 93 other killings between years 1970-2005 but ​​served 3 consecutive life-without parole sentences for the murder of 3 women in 1980. Throughout the late 90’s Little would target vulnerable women involved with prostitution or drugs and lure them in. After various unsuccessful attempts in identifying Birdlong January of 2021, “Othram, a Texas DNA research facility, was contracted by Mississippi authorities to create a family tree based on the victim's DNA. 

There was a hit from the DNA: a possible distant cousin of the victim who was living in Texas, according to the sheriff's department.” (Riess & Maxouris). Investigators later spoke to distant cousins and family of Clara Birdlong to help investigators identify her, “With the help of the Texas lab, officials confirmed the DNA was a match to the grandmother authorities had spoken to, the sheriff's department said.”. Hearing investigations and stories like these give a new insight to the public of such tragic cases. This not only informs about the extensive process of identifying remains, especially during a homicide case but gives a better idea of circumstances investigators perform under. 

            Overall there are very strong strengths and weaknesses about this review. Some weaknesses are the lack of statistics and quotes from scientists. This would be useful if it was provided after explaining Texas DNA lab’s findings of Clara Birdlong’s identity, to support their investigation to the audience. Here they could have quoted a scientist. Strengths of this review are very well explaining Little’s crime background and sentences. This really gave the readers a full grasp and understanding of his crime history and any prior convictions.