Annie McCarrick had been living in Dublin when she vanished just days after her 26th birthday.
Shortly after the New Yorker would have turned 56, officers also revealed they recently travelled to the US to tell Annie’s 79-year-old widowed mum Nancy of the developments.
Announcing the move yesterday, Detective Supt Eddie Carroll vowed to resolve the case for Annie’s elderly mum.
He said: “We are satisfied it is more likely now that Annie came to a foul demise.
“Her mother deserves to know what happened. She has been waiting 30 years for answers.
“I, and the investigation team, are determined to gather all information to find answers and bring the matter to a conclusion.
“I have made this commitment to Nancy and her family.”
TRUTH
Annie’s dad John died in 2009 without knowing the truth of what happened to his daughter.
It was announced the decision to upgrade the inquiry was “based on the entirety of the information available to the investigation team”.
A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the probe.
Det Supt Carroll did not disclose the specifics but confirmed it involved forensic techniques not available 30 years ago.
He also revealed the same techniques were involved in the reopening of the 1984 Kerry babies case.
But a senior detective in the original case last night said he told his superiors at the outset of the investigation that she had been murdered.
Alan Bailey, who was the liaison officer to the family, added her mum has long believed her only daughter was killed.
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