The body of a woman found five years ago in the Kentucky River has been identified as a person missing from Virginia since 1973.
Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn told news outlets the body has been identified as Martha Smith Helmick, 57, of Bridgewater, Virginia. Her remains were found inside a car in the river in October 2016. The Lexington Fire Department’s dive team happened upon the remains during a training exercise.
Helmick is one of three people, all from Virginia, believed to have been killed when their vehicle crashed into the river in 1973. Helmick was traveling with her sister, Flora Helmick, 52, also of Bridgewater, and John Keyton, 81, of Monterey, Virginia, to a family reunion in Jessamine County.
The remains of Flora Helmick and Keyton have not been found.
Martha Helmick’s remains will be returned home to Virginia where she will be laid to rest next to her husband.
Ginn recognized the hard work of the Lexington Fire and Police Departments, and new DNA technology, for being able to successfully identify the remains.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
