Erickson was last seen in Brattleboro, Vermont in October 1973. In April 1974, the body of an unidentified woman was discovered in some woods in New Hampshire.

With the help of forensic testing, authorities identified a young woman at the center of a mysterious cold case, more than 50 years after her body was found in the woods along a New Hampshire highway.

DNA technology confirmed that the body of Nancy Gale Erickson was found following her disappearance. She previously worked as a nurse at the Brattleboro Retreat.

Detectives believed the mystery woman had died in the late fall of 1973. New Hampshire authorities said Wednesday that forensic testing helped them to identify the young woman as Erickson. "After years of work on this case,