In a breakthrough that closes a painful chapter in Virginia's history, Fairfax County police have finally identified a young boy found murdered in 1972 under the Old Colchester Road Bridge in what is now known as Giles Creek. After 53 years of uncertainty, advanced DNA technology confirmed that the child was 4-year-old Carl Matthew Bryant. This discovery not only gives the child his name back but also sheds light on a decades-old mystery that had haunted investigators for generations. Police now believe that his infant brother, James, was also murdered during the same period.

The case dates back to June 13, 1972, when the body of a little boy was discovered in the creek. At that time, detectives determined that he had died from blunt force trauma. Despite numerous attempts to match the boy with missing children over the years, his identity remained unknown. The case went cold, but the persistence of law enforcement and the preservation of evidence kept hope alive. It was the foresight of the original detective to save a small sample of the child’s hair that eventually led to a breakthrough five decades later.

With advancements in genetic genealogy, Fairfax County detectives revisited the case. They sent the tiny hair sample to a California-based forensic lab, Astrea Forensics, known for extracting DNA profiles from minimal samples. Cold case Detective Melissa Wallace described the process as a long shot, given that the hair was less than the recommended amount for testing. However, the lab succeeded in creating a usable profile, which became the key to solving the mystery.

Through genetic genealogy, detectives identified a potential family link that led them to Philadelphia. There, they uncovered the story of Vera Bryant, who had two sons, Carl and James. In 1972, Vera traveled with her partner, James Hedgepeth, to Virginia. The two boys never returned, and Vera became estranged from her family, leaving them unaware of what had happened to the children. Both Vera and Hedgepeth have since passed away, but investigators exhumed Vera’s remains to confirm through DNA that the child found in Virginia was indeed her son, Carl.

Authorities now believe that both boys were murdered during the journey from Pennsylvania to Virginia in June 1972. The body of infant James has never been recovered, but detectives strongly suspect that he too was killed and disposed of somewhere along the route. Assistant Chief Brooke Wright emphasized that the investigation concludes the murders occurred on the same day, marking a grim chapter in the history of the Bryant family.

At a recent press conference, Carl’s relatives stood with detectives, although they were too emotional to answer questions. The announcement brought a sense of closure to the family, who had long wondered about the fate of their loved ones. Detective Wallace, who spearheaded the investigation, expressed the personal impact of the case, noting how deeply the boy’s suffering resonated with her as a parent. She stated that solving the case was not just about closing a file but about restoring the identity of a child who had been forgotten for far too long.

Carl Matthew Bryant’s father was never identified, while the father of the infant James has been informed of the tragic events. Years earlier, thanks to a charitable organization, Carl was given a proper burial in a Fort Hunt cemetery. However, his grave marker was washed away during a severe storm in 2012. Now that his identity has been confirmed, Fairfax County police plan to honor his memory with a bench and a newly engraved marker bearing his name, ensuring that he will be remembered.

The identification of Carl Matthew Bryant underscores the power of modern forensic science in solving cold cases. It also highlights the dedication of detectives who refuse to give up on victims, no matter how much time has passed. While the full circumstances of the murders may never be fully known, the resolution of this case brings long-awaited answers to Carl’s surviving family and serves as a testament to the importance of preserving evidence. The boy who was once nameless now has his name restored, and his story has finally been told.