The Writer at the Lincoln Memorial

The Identity

Once back at the Jeffersonian, Meredith took the skull, cleaned it, and then commenced the process known as facial reconstruction— a process that consists of using clay and rubber markers. Three hours later, Meredith finished the forensic bust and took it to Angela. "Here you go, Aunt Ange," said Meredith, handing the bust to Angela. "Oh, my God. This is the best forensic bust I've ever seen." Meredith smiled as Angela snapped a picture of the bust, and ran a picture of it through missing persons. Within minutes, Angela's computer alerted her that a match had been made. "Anything on the victim yet," Bones asked as she and Cam entered Angela's office. Angela replied, "With the help of Mer's amazing forensic bust and missing persons reports, our victim has been identified as 20-year-old Laney Thompson, a freelance writer and anthropologist from Natchez, Mississippi, who's been missing since Halloween last year." "That time period would be consistent with the condition in which the remains were found," said Bones. "Based on that evidence, I'd say she was killed on or around the same time she went missing," Meredith added.

Cam questioned, "How can you tell?" Meredith replied, "I researched the weather patterns of last year's Halloween and the following days in Natchez and here in D.C., and given the rate of rigidity of the bones and the decomposition rate of the remaining flesh on the bones, I'd say that Laney was murdered in Mississippi— one week after she went missing." "I have found something that further corroborates your findings," said Hodgins as he entered Angela's office with a Petrie dish." Cam said, "Do tell, Dr. Hodgins." Hodgins said, "I found what is called the American carrion beetle on the remains." "How does that support Mere's findings," questioned Angela. Hodgins replied, "The American carrion beetle is amongst the 200 types of beetles most common in Mississippi." Bones said, "I'll call Booth and let him know." Cam, Angela, Hodgins, and Meredith nodded. "Great work, Guys," Bones called out over her shoulder as she walked out to call Booth. "Hey, Bones," Booth answered. Bones said, "Mere and Ange got a positive ID on our victim." "That's great! Who is it," said Booth. Bones replied, "20-year-old Laney Thompson. She was a freelance writer and anthropologist from Natchez, Mississippi." Booth asked, "How did her bones wind up here?" "That's for me to know and for you to find out. Bye," Bones