ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- March 15th, 2024 marks 60 years to the day since a 12-year-old girl from Elmira was reported missing, only to be found days later dead, and police still haven't given up hope of solving the case. To mark the date, the Elmira Police Department announced they are making progress in the investigation into her death through a partnership with the Criminal Investigation Resource Center at Russell Sage College.

"The Center has provided invaluable assistance to the Department including case organization and digitizing of documents, site surveys, and in-depth review of documents, suspects, and forensics to further the investigative efforts of this case," said Sgt. William Goodwin of the Elmira Police Department in a prepared statement. 

According to Goodwin, the E.P.D. partnered with CIRC back in 2023. Police say CIRC is the second center of it's kind in New York State, and one of less than a dozen in the entire country. 

Along with CIRC, Goodwin said that funds have been allocated for advanced DNA testing and analysis to be conducted by a Texas based company. The specialized testing will focus on DNA found on Mary Theresa Simpson’s blouse by the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center back in 2000. Police say the hope is that recent advances in DNA technology will allow the recovered profile from the blouse to be used for genetic genealogy and family tree research.

The money for the testing is coming from money awarded to the department back in 2022 through a grant request with a group called Season of Justice.