DECATUR, Ga. — More than 40 years ago, a truck driver found the skeletal remains of a young woman off U.S. 27 in the South Florida Everglades. Now, the woman has a name — Shelia Ann Nichols of Decatur, Georgia.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Homicide Unit announced Wednesday that with the help of the BSO’s Crime Lab, detectives were finally able to give a name to the woman found in 1983. They are now asking for the public’s help in finding out what happened to her.

Shelia Ann Nichols disappeared from the Decatur area in 1983 and was found dead in Broward County in September of that year, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Detectives knew the woman was murdered, but they still don’t know how she ended up in Florida, how she was murdered and who killed her.

“While detectives are gratified that the victim finally has a name, the biggest questions remain unknown — how Shelia Ann was brutally murdered, callously discarded and who killed her,” said Broward Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Carey Codd in a news release. “Detectives are now putting out a call for any information that might lead to long-sought justice or answers in this case.”

Nichols’ case is featured in the latest episode of BSO’s “Open and Unsolved” cold case series.

In 1983, BSO’s detectives followed leads and evidence as they investigated the case. They had a model made of the woman’s face to show the public as they sought tips. But eventually the case went cold.

Recent technological advances spurred detectives to continue working on the case. DNA testing was conducted through a grant from the Missing and Unidentified Human Remains Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, enabling BSO’s genetic genealogists in its Crime Lab to “sift through mountains of online and hard copy records,” Codd said.

That work revealed that the remains were likely those of a young woman from Decatur who had vanished in May 1983. Following a DNA match to her father last year, detectives confirmed that the woman was Shelia Ann, the victim of a cold and calculated killing, Codd said.

“It’s unspeakable how somebody could dispose of this young lady with such disregard,” BSO Cold Case Homicide Unit Detective Andrew Gianino said. “It’s just heart-wrenching.”

Detective Gianino began researching the case a couple of years ago and discovered that around the same time in 1983 that Shelia Ann Nichols disappeared, her sister, Virginia Gail, also disappeared from Decatur.

“This has to be one of the most complex cases with various twists that I’ve ever worked,” Gianino said.

Detective Gianino’s investigation led to Virginia Gail being found alive and well, able to reunite with her family. But Shelia Ann Nichols’ case remains unsolved.

Detective Gianino said publicizing Shelia Ann Nichols’ name and face could lead to someone in South Florida or Decatur, Georgia, with information about what happened to her, and even to an arrest.

“We need that one phone call,” Detective Gianino said. “It would make all the difference going forward.”

Anyone with information on Shelia Ann Nichols’ disappearance or homicide is asked to contact BSO Detective Gianino at 954-321-4376 or submit a tip through the SaferWatch app.

Those who want to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000 can contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477), online at browardcrimestoppers.org, or dial *TIPS (8477) from any cellphone in the United States.

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