Charles City County authorities have announced a breakthrough in a decades-old cold case, identifying human remains discovered along the James River in 1979 through the use of advanced genetic genealogy.
Investigator Zohra Anwari was contacted by the Virginia State Police Cold Case Division after new information surfaced regarding an unidentified body found on the shore of the James River near Sturgeon Point Road on August 28, 1979. Through genetic genealogy and ancestry research, investigators identified possible relatives of the deceased, leading to the only full-blood living sister, who resides in the Mechanicsville area of Hanover County.
Investigator Anwari and a Virginia State Police Special Agent met with the sister, who provided additional information about her brother’s disappearance and consented to provide a DNA sample. That sample was submitted for analysis and later compared to skeletal remains held by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond.
On November 24, 2025, the Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed a positive DNA match identifying the remains as those of Nick Lopsis, who had been reported missing on May 31, 1979. Investigator Anwari immediately notified the next of kin of the confirmed identification.
“This is a testament to the dedication and commitment that Investigator Anwari gives to all of her cases, and especially this one to finally bring closure for the family,” said Jayson Crawley, Sheriff of Charles City County.
In recognition of her work, Investigator Anwari received a “Poker Chip” for successfully solving the case. Additional information will be released at an upcoming joint press conference with the Richmond City Police Department.
