After nearly five decades of mystery, a woman found dead in the Sierra Nevada snow has been identified as Melinda "Pip" Beardsley, a mother who had been missing since the mid-1970s. The identification came after years of investigative work and advances in DNA technology. The case, which dates back to December 17, 1977, was initially ruled an undetermined death. Despite extensive efforts, no matches were found for the victim's fingerprints. Eventually, a partial DNA profile was developed in 2018, but it was not strong enough for investigative genetic genealogy. This breakthrough led to a partnership with Moxxy Forensic Investigations, a nonprofit specializing in genetic genealogism, which identified a possible link to the Emigrant Gap case.