EXCLUSIVE: "Her Family Thought the Worst for Some Time" - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

An arrest in a child porn case leads to a break in a cold case with ties -- right here in our region.

In September 2002 -- a body was discovered in the Greenbrier State forest by a passerby.The body was over an embankment along Greenbrier State Forest Road -- also known as Harts Run.

Now, a new development in the case of just who this person was -- brought 59 news all the way to Waynesboro, Virginia -- more than an hour from where the body was found along Interstate 64.

This is a story we brought to your first on 59 News at noon.

It has been over a decade since a women's body was found here in the Greenbrier State Forest... And now 59 News is finally learning who this woman was.

Her name was Karen Tait, a young mother and wife and now the search is on to catch her killer.

It's a case the Lewisburg state police never gave up on.

"The case has always been active with us. We look at it every year,Sgt. W.A. Pendleton, WV State Police said.

A "Jane Doe" found dead and for 12 years the corpse had no identity.

Police said it wasn't until years later and over 100 miles away when a Waynesboro, Virginia man was arrested for possession of child pornography that this cold case warmed up.

"With an assault of child you always want to I-D who the parents are, who the mother is," Capt. Kelly Walker,Waynesboro Police Department said.

Thomas Tait's young wife was named Karen. In 2000 He brought his bride from the Philippines to live with him in Waynesboro, VA. Within a year of their marriage she gave birth to their first and only child. Shortly after, she went missing. And police were unable to connect the dots until Thomas broke the law.

They were able to finally ID Karen by matching DNA samples from her family in the Philippines and child.

Not a whole lot is known about Karen Tait. Police said she spoke English well but did not have a lot of interaction outside of the home. Police said she lived on Fairfax Avenue during the time she was married to Thomas. But now police need your help to catch a killer.

"Her family thought the worst for some time and they are devastated and our hearts go out to them completely," Walker said.

As the missing persons case of Karen Tait is now closed, police said a homicide investigation is wide open. They are asking anyone who knew the Tait's between 2000 and 2002 to come forward. Police especially would like to track down the Tait family car. It was a 1990 bluish-gray Cadillac Deville. Karen is actually seen in a photograph with the car in an unknown wooded area.

Any information you can contact the state police or CrimeStoppers.