Almost 37 years after her nephew went missing, Carolann Angelli took a DNA test and received news she didn’t believe she’d ever hear.

“There was no news on Anthony from the day that they told me he was missing,” Angelli, 72, said. “Within about two or three weeks (after the test), I found out that we were a perfect match as an aunt and a nephew.”

Anthony Angelli Rea was reported missing from Newbury’s Harbor School in August 1988. Four years later, a teenage boy’s remains were discovered half-buried in Newburyport.

With the help of genome sequencing, the remains were identified as belonging to Rea more than 30 years later.

“Anthony was a sweet child, and just taken from us way too soon,” his aunt said.

His only surviving relative, Angelli said receiving the news that Rea had finally

See Full Page