Unidentified Woman’s Remains Found in Riceboro

Update to Original News Release: Unidentified Woman’s Remains Found in Riceboro

Victim Identified and Suspect Arrested 

(May 12, 2023) - Nicholas James Kassotis, aka Nicholas Killian James Stark, age 40, was arrested on Friday, May 12, 2023, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  He was arrested in connection to the death of his wife, Mindi Mebane Kassotis.  

Mindi’s body was found on a hunting club which covered areas in Liberty and Mcintosh Counties on December 2, 2022.  She was 40 years old at the time she was found in Riceboro, GA.  The Kassotis’ were living in Savannah at the time of Mindi’s death. 

GBI agents assigned to this investigation sought the FBI’s assistance with genealogy DNA. FBI used a lab specializing in this advanced testing and received results that furthered the investigation.  The GBI interviewed family members and obtained DNA swabs for comparison to the profile created through genealogy DNA.  Mindi Kassotis was identified on May 11, 2023. 

Nicholas Kassotis is being charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and removal of body parts from scene of death or dismemberment. 

He is being held at the Lancaster County Prison awaiting extradition to Georgia. 

The GBI would like to thank FBI Atlanta and FBI Baltimore for their assistance in identifying the victim, and FBI-Lancaster, PA, U.S. Marshals Service East Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force-Lancaster Office, Lancaster Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the arrest.  GBI Forensic Artist Kelly Lawson’s composite sketch (attached) also advanced this investigation. 

More on genetic genealogy: 

The focus of investigative genetic genealogy is on the construction of family trees for the persons identified as possible family members to the victim/suspect by combing through public and government records. 

FBI personnel then compare the persons identified in the family trees with the location and timing of the crime to identify the likely suspect. Lastly, the FBI seeks a comparison between the victim’s DNA and the DNA from a parent of the victim to verify the identity.

UPDATE:

Riceboro, GA (January 5, 2023) – The GBI and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office are continuing to seek the public’s help in identifying a woman who was found dismembered. An updated forensic artist’s rendering of the woman is attached.

Initially, partial remains of a white female were discovered off Jones Road in the woods of the Portal Hunting Club in Riceboro, Liberty County, GA. Additional remains were discovered within a three-mile radius on the hunting club property in Liberty County, as well as McIntosh County. Further testing has determined that the remains were placed in the area on or around November 27, 2022.

The remains are that of a white female with brown eyes and shoulder-length brown hair, approximately 5’9” to 5’10” in height, and approximately 185 to 200 lbs., with an age range of 20-50 years old. The body has no scars, marks, or tattoos. There is a single tooth implant in the upper right jaw. Clothing found near the remains is described as a dark blue long sleeve, “Merona” brand shirt, size medium; white camisole top, size large; light gray boy shorts with white stripe down the side, size large; and white “Amazon Essentials” underwear, size large.

Anyone with information regarding a person matching this description is asked to contact the GBI Office in Statesboro at 912-871-1121 or the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office at 912-876-4555. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Riceboro, GA (December 13, 2022) – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office are seeking the public’s help in identifying a woman who was the apparent victim of a homicide. The body is that of a white female with brown eyes and brown hair, approximately 5’9’ to 5’10, and approximately 190 to 200 lbs. She has no apparent scars or tattoos. A forensic artist’s rendering of the woman is attached.

The woman’s remains were discovered by hunters on Friday, December 2, 2022, in woods of the Portal Hunting Club that intersects with Jones Road near the City of Riceboro and Liberty and McIntosh County border. Her date of death is believed to be approximately one to two weeks before she was found.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information regarding a person matching this description is asked to contact the GBI Office in Statesboro at 912-871-1121 or the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office at 912-876-4555. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

In addition, a special thanks to the following agencies for their assistance: Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit, and South Carolina K9 Search Team.