The Mohave County Sheriff's Office is renewing efforts to solve a cold case from 1979 that involves the death of Marion Berry Ouma, granddaughter of Loren Berry, the founder of Yellow Pages. As reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, Ouma was found deceased with gunshot wounds on an embankment near the Hoover Dam over four decades ago, a case that remains unsolved despite the passage of time.
Ouma's ties to wealth and prominence come into focus as her grandfather's estate, worth an estimated $500 million, left $40 million to Ouma, who at the time of his death had not yet been identified as the murder victim. In a bid to possibly crack the case, authorities are urging the public to help to possibly bring closure to this long-standing mystery. Detectives are especially interested in tracing Ouma's movements between December 13, 1978, when she was last seen at a Las Vegas bank, and January 3, 1979, when her body was discovered. According to a FOX 10 Phoenix release, details surrounding the final weeks of Ouma's life remain scant.
In a case that seems to only grow colder with each passing year, the Mohave County Sheriff's Office shared in their release details of the vehicle potentially associated with the incident—a 1976-1977 powder blue Chevrolet Blazer or Ford Bronco. The vehicle, which was seen by a witness who described it as having its front license plate covered with a rag, also featured front-end chrome push bars, all-terrain tires, and a tall CB antenna on the right rear, as detailed by Dayton Daily News.
A glimmer of hope in the case came in February 1981, when a private investigator thought to possibly have a photograph that resembled the then-unidentified victim, Ouma. This lead allowed detectives to eventually confirm Ouma's identity through fingerprint and dental record comparisons. Despite these revelations, the trail of Ouma's activities and whereabouts in the final month of her life before she was found dead remains elusive.
Anyone with information about Marion Berry Ouma's last known movements or the distinctive vehicle described is encouraged to reach out to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Unit at 928-753-0753 ext. 4408, referencing DR# 79-022. As the sheriff's office stated, "Despite the lapse of time, it is hoped that someone may still have valuable information that may lead to the identification of possible suspects."
