Home / Crime and Justice / Decades Later, Slain Teen "Castleberry Kate" Finally Identified
Decades Later, Slain Teen "Castleberry Kate" Finally Identified
5 Jun
Summary
- Skeletal remains discovered in 1989 were identified as Sonya Alice Langan.
- Forensic genetic genealogy testing led to the breakthrough identification.
- The homicide investigation into Langan's death remains open.
Skeletal remains found in Bullhead City, Arizona, in May 1989 have finally been identified as Sonya Alice Langan, who was about 17 or 18 years old when she left home in 1982. The victim was previously known only by the nickname "Castleberry Kate," derived from the street where her remains were discovered.
Investigators initially believed the victim was between 17 and 19 years old and had been deceased for two to ten years. The discovery of a bullet in her skull led authorities to classify the death as a homicide. Evidence from the case was submitted for forensic genetic genealogy testing in 2024.
This advanced testing developed a strong genetic match, pointing investigators toward Langan in late 2025. Detectives contacted relatives, who confirmed Langan had left home around 1982 due to family issues and was never formally reported missing. Relatives provided DNA samples, confirming her identity in May 2026.
Langan had reportedly dropped out of Kingman High School as a freshman in 1979 before her family moved to Bullhead City. She lived near River Glen Drive and worked at Burger King. The homicide investigation remains active, and authorities are seeking information.
