Remains found in trash bag identified as woman last heard from in 2021, UT cops say

Human remains found months ago now have been identified as a woman who hadn’t been heard from since 2021, Utah authorities said.

A Union Pacific crew in April found a trash bag near a highway and when they looked inside they found hair and bones, later identified as human remains, according to police and FOX 13.

When the remains were first uncovered, investigators couldn’t identify the person’s sex, with only minimal clues like black leggings, according to an Oct. 15 Facebook post by the Brigham City Police Department.

Investigators found a heart-shaped tattoo on the remains and hoped someone would recognize it, but it didn’t provide any leads, police said.

Police sent a portion of the remains to a private laboratory that created a DNA profile, which led to a match, authorities said.

The remains were identified as Brandy Hickey, a woman who would’ve been 42 years old when her remains were found, police said.

The case is being investigated as a homicide, officers said.

Hickey’s family was contacted to let them know her remains had been found, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 435-734-6684.

Brigham City is about a 60-mile drive north from Salt Lake City.