Authorities have identified skeletal remains found behind an old RV dealership in September 2019 as Maria del Socorro Medina Trejo, a Winston‑Salem mother who was never reported missing. A forensic anthropologist estimated the bones had been exposed for four to seven months. The DNA Doe Project used genetic genealogy to locate a distant relative and confirm the match. The death remains under active investigation and is being treated as a homicide until evidence indicates otherwise.
Six Years After Discovery, Skeletal Remains Identified as Winston‑Salem Mother Never Reported Missing
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office/FacebookMaria del Socorro Medina Trejo.
More than six years after a hunter discovered skeletal remains in a wooded lot in northwestern North Carolina, authorities have identified the woman as Maria del Socorro Medina Trejo, a mother who lived in Winston‑Salem and was never reported missing.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office announced on Dec. 31 that remains found behind an old RV dealership in September 2019 were confirmed to be Medina Trejo. The site where the bones were recovered is near the home where she had lived.
Discovery and Initial Investigation
On Sept. 10, 2019, a hunter "stumbled upon" human remains in the woods behind a former RV dealership. Investigators recovered a partial skull, pelvis, sections of vertebrae and arm and leg bones over the following days. Because of the condition of the bones, investigators were initially unable to extract usable DNA and early leads did not identify the victim.
Forensic Review and Genetic Genealogy
At the time of recovery, a forensic anthropologist estimated the remains had been exposed to the elements for roughly four to seven months. In December 2022 the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit that uses investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified remains.
Google EarthThe wooded area in Rural Hall, N.C., where human remains were discovered.
Genealogists built a DNA profile and determined the remains were of Hispanic origin. That work led to a distant relative who, months later at a family gathering, learned a family member was unaccounted for. A subsequent DNA test confirmed the match to Maria del Socorro Medina Trejo.
Victim and Ongoing Investigation
Born in Zimapán, Mexico, in 1976, Medina Trejo was believed to be about 42 years old at the time of her death. Authorities say the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death are still under active investigation.
Sgt. Chris King of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said investigators are continuing to pursue leads and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Major Lane Koontz emphasized this identification is only the first step toward justice and noted the investigation will be treated as a homicide until evidence indicates otherwise.
How To Help
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office at 336‑727‑2112, submit anonymous tips via Text‑A‑Tip at 336‑920‑8477, or call Crime Stoppers at 336‑727‑2800 (English) or 336‑728‑3904 (Spanish).
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had not provided additional comment at the time of the announcement.
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