DNA Doe Project

DNA Doe Project

Formation	2017
Founders	Colleen Fitzpatrick and Margaret Press
Purpose	Body identification
Headquarters	Sebastopol, California, United States
Location	United States
Volunteers	60+
Website	www.dnadoeproject.org

DNA Doe Project (also DNA Doe Project, Inc. or DDP) is an American non-profit volunteer organization formed to identify unidentified deceased persons (commonly known as John Doe or Jane Doe) using forensic genealogy. Volunteers identify victims of automobile accidents, homicide, and unusual circumstances, and persons who committed suicide under an alias.^[1] The group was founded in 2017 by Colleen Fitzpatrick and Margaret Press.

History[]

Colleen Fitzpatrick, who has a doctorate in physics, worked as a nuclear physicist with NASA and the US Department of Defense,^[2] was the founder of IdentiFinders, an organization that used Y-chromosomal testing to attempt to identify male killers in unsolved homicides.^[2]

Margaret Press is a novelist who has also had careers in computer programming, speech, and language consulting.^[3] She retired from computer programming in 2015 and relocated from Salem, Massachusetts to Sebastopol, California to live near family.^[3] As a hobby, Press had begun working in genetic genealogy in 2007, helping friends and acquaintances find relatives, as well as helping adoptees find their biological parents.^[3] After reading Sue Grafton's novel "Q" Is for Quarry, about a Jane Doe, Press hoped to use genetic genealogy to also identify unidentified homicide victims.^[2]

In 2017, Fitzpatrick, Press and a small group of volunteers formed the volunteer-based, nonprofit DNA Doe Project (DDP), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Sebastopol, California.^[3] The two, along with many volunteers, use genetic and traditional genealogy sources in conjunction with DNA from unidentified victims and working with local law enforcement agencies to build family trees through GEDmatch, a free public DNA database. Through this process, they have been able to identify several individuals in cold cases.^[2]

In March 2018, the DNA Doe Project announced it had solved its first case. Known for decades as the "Buckskin Girl," the victim was identified as Marcia Lenore Sossoman (King). Her father had died in 2018, a few months before the identification was made, but other family members gathered to commemorate Marcia Sossoman (King) when they unveiled a new gravestone bearing her name at her grave in Riverside Cemetery, Miami County, Ohio.^[4]

In May 2019, GEDmatch required people who had uploaded their DNA to its site to specifically opt in to allow law enforcement agencies to access their information. This change in privacy policy was forecast to make it much more difficult in the future for law enforcement agencies to solve cold cases using genetic genealogy.^[5]

As of 2021, the organization has assisted in discovering the identity of more than 50 individuals, with 44 cases being publicized as identified.^[6]

Procedure[]

Typical steps[]

Each genetic genealogy case at the DNA Doe Project generally is conducted by the following steps:

1. Acceptance of case from law enforcement
2. Extraction of DNA sample (sometimes repeated if the first sample proves too degraded for analysis)
3. Fundraising for DNA sequencing
4. Sequencing of DNA sample
5. Bioinformatics "translates" the DNA sequencing into a digital data file that is compatible with GEDmatch
6. Uploading DNA data file to GEDmatch
7. Genealogical analysis using GEDmatch and other tools
8. Tentative identification of the Doe
9. Law enforcement verifies identity, typically using fingerprints or a DNA sample provided by an immediate relative

Difficulties[]

Some of the difficulties the DNA Doe project encountered when using genetic genealogy to identify bodies have been:^[7][8]

• Adoptions into the family tree, which interrupt the genetic genealogy. Fitzpatrick described this as having to "solve a mystery to solve a mystery," This was the case with a key match of Anthony John Armbrust III, a man found in Park County, Colorado in 1974.
• Ethnicities for which there are not yet large DNA databases, such as Native American, Hispanic, and African American. The Apache Junction Jane Doe found in Arizona in 1992 and Trabuco Canyon John Doe found in 1996 have not yet been identified for this reason.^[9] It took extra time to identify Lyle Stevik. Stevik was believed to be of Native American ancestry while the Apache Junction Jane Doe is thought to be of African American ancestry. The Trabuco Canyon John Doe was found to most likely be from a remote part of Latin America, and genealogy research results were too sparse in order to continue research.^[10] Shirley Soosay, previously known as Kern County Jane Doe was of First Nations ancestry, and was only identified when the Project released information about her ancestry and possible origins, when a family member recognized her.
• Persons descended from or who are themselves recent immigrants to the United States, for whom there would not be ancestral genealogy records in the US. For example, Philadelphia Jane Doe is now thought to have had ancestors from Australia and Malta, and St. Tammany Parish John Doe is believed to have ancestors in various countries in Southern Europe near the Mediterranean Sea, including Greece, Italy, Turkey, Romania and Moldova.
• Intermarriage among related families (endogamy ), making discernment of the lines of descent and individuals more difficult. Such families were encountered by researchers in the "Belle in the Well", Broadway Street Jane Doe, and Stevik cases.
• Amounts of DNA being too small for adequate testing, especially with difficult bone extractions. This status could require multiple extractions for a suitable sample.
• Degraded DNA. This was a condition encountered in the Joseph Newton Chandler III case, as well as Sue Ann Huskey and Tamara Tigard.
• Bacterial/Human contamination, reducing the amounts of the Doe's DNA that can be used for analysis, which usually isn't discovered until sequencing is complete. James Freund and Pamela Buckley's DNA was contaminated with bacteria, and two does from Washington had to be put on hold due to contamination.
• Exceedingly large family trees, which can cause investigations to take weeks or months. This was the case with Joseph Henry Loveless, Karen Knippers, and is the case with the Kings County and Kern County (2011) Jane Does.
• During 2020, Margaret Press has stated that the COVID-19 Pandemic has hampered investigations, particularly ones that have been solved and now need law enforcement to make contact with the families. She stated that many agencies prefer to do these announcements in-person with families and have not been able due to the pandemic and travel restrictions caused by it. She went further to say that volunteers as well as laboratories have also been affected by the pandemic.

Cases[]

2018 identifications[]

Marcia King, AKA "Buckskin Girl"[]

In 1981, 3 passersby found a female murder victim in a ditch in Troy, Ohio. Because the victim was found wearing a distinctive buckskin coat, she was given the name "Buckskin Girl" as the investigation continued. For decades, authorities sought the woman's identity, but to no avail.^[4][11]

At the 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences conference, Elizabeth Murray, an Ohio forensic anthropologist, met Colleen Fitzpatrick and Margaret Press, founders of the DNA Doe Project, who discussed what genetic genealogy techniques could do for this case. The victim's body had long since been buried, but a vial of blood had been held in a lab for 37 years. The vial had not been refrigerated, however, resulting in the DNA becoming highly degraded, with only 50–75% of markers remaining. With the help of Greg Magoon, a senior researcher at Aerodyne Research, they were able to upload this DNA data to GEDmatch.^[4][11]

From this point, the DNA Doe Project was able to identify the "Buckskin Girl," based on a very close DNA match (to a first cousin once removed).^[12] Her name was Marcia Lenore Sossoman (King) from Arkansas, age 21 at the time of her death. DNA Doe Project volunteers provided law enforcement with the name of a close relative of King's who lived in Florida. This relative volunteered a DNA sample that confirmed Sossoman's identity. This sample proved to be a match.^[4]

After 37 years, her mother was still living at the house where Sossoman had grown up. She had refused to move or change her phone number in hopes that her daughter might return or try to contact her.^[4][11]

"Lyle Stevik"[]

In September 2001, a man was found to have hanged himself in a motel in Amanda Park, Washington, a town on the Olympic Peninsula. The man had checked in as "Lyle Stevik," which appeared to be an alias. This name appeared drawn from "Lyle Stevick", a character in a Joyce Carol Oates's novel You Must Remember This (1987).

The Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office spent countless hours in search of the man's true identity, but to no avail.^{[13][14][15][16]}

In 2018, the DNA Doe Project took the case at the request of the County Sheriff's Office. In order to raise the funds required to complete the necessary DNA analysis, the DDP set up its first-ever "Doe Fund Me" campaign on behalf of the victim. The campaign was a quick success, as by this time "Stevik" had gained Internet fame among web sleuths. Adequate funds were raised within 24 hours. By 22 March 2018, DDP volunteers had obtained his DNA results and began analyzing through GEDmatch and related genetic genealogy research.^{[13][14][15][16]}

After about 20 volunteers put hundreds of hours into the case, they found a candidate in a 25-year-old young man from California. DNA tests indicated he was of mixed Native American and Hispanic descent. Authorities contacted the man's family, who conclusively verified his identity using fingerprint samples taken in his childhood, having previously thought the man distanced himself from them. The family has requested that Stevik's identity remain private.^{[13][14][15][16]}

Robert Nichols, AKA Joseph Newton Chandler III[]

Joseph Newton Chandler III, a resident of Eastlake, Ohio, died by suicide in his apartment on July 24, 2002. As authorities sought to identify his heirs, they discovered that his name and identity were fake. The real Joseph Newton Chandler III had died in a Sherman, Texas car accident at age eight on 21 December 1945. The suicide victim had stolen the boy's identity in 1978, while living in South Dakota. Authorities began a search for the man's true identity.^{[17][18][19][20][21]}

Extracting DNA proved difficult, as the victim's remains had been cremated. In the year 2000, however, two years before his death, the victim had had a tissue sample taken for a medical treatment. Authorities obtained this sample, but genetic analysis of the sample using traditional law enforcement techniques yielded few clues. In 2016, authorities contacted IdentiFinders, a company run by Colleen Fitzpatrick, for help. In examining the man's Y-DNA signature, they determined that his true last name was likely "Nicholas" or some variation.^{[17][18][19][20][21]}

Chandler became the first case for the DDP. They analyzed the autosomal DNA^[4] of the highly degraded sample of the man's DNA, which had been stored in paraffin for about 15 years. Despite the obstacles, and after over 2,500 hours of work,^[2] the DDP researchers were able to conclusively determine in June 2018^[19] that Joseph Newton Chandler III, was Robert Ivan Nichols, son of Silas and Alpha Nichols of New Albany, Indiana. This identification was verified when Robert's son, Phillip Nichols, volunteered a DNA sample, which proved to be a match.^{[17][18][19][20][21]}

Mary Silvani, AKA "Washoe County Jane Doe"[]

The body of a woman aged between 25 and 35 years was found by hikers on July 17, 1982 in Sheep Flats, Washoe County, Nevada. The woman had been shot in the back of the head as she was bending over, possibly to tie her shoes. The bullet hole on her head had been covered with men's underwear.

The victim wore a light pair of tennis shoes, a sleeveless blue shirt, jeans with a blue bikini bottom in a pocket, and a blue swimsuit underneath. The shirt had been sold at stores in California, Washington, and Oregon.

At the victim's autopsy, a vaccination scar was found on her left arm, and another on her abdomen. In addition, one of her toenails had a large bruise underneath. Evidence from the style of dental work she had received indicated that she may have lived in Europe at some point during life. This theory has since been disproved. The woman had hazel eyes, was around five feet five inches in height, weighed 112 pounds, and had brown hair tied back in a bun. 231 people have been ruled out as possible identities of the decedent.

During the years when police struggled to identify her, she was known as "Sheep Flats Jane Doe" or "Washoe County Jane Doe".

In July 2018 it was announced that she had been tentatively identified through genetic genealogy by the DNA Doe Project. In September 2018 her identity was confirmed by the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. However the Sheriff's Office withheld further information due to its ongoing homicide investigation.

In May 2019 the Washoe County Sheriff's Office announced that Washoe County Jane Doe is 33-year-old Mary Edith Silvani. She was born in Pontiac, Michigan, and grew up in the Detroit area. She later moved to California as an adult.^[22]

The perpetrator, James Richard Curry, was also found through forensic genealogy. Curry committed suicide in prison the day following his arrest after being charged with another murder in January 1983.^[23]

"Alfred Jake Fuller"[]

A man aged 40 to 46 was discovered in his apartment in Oakland, Maine, after having died on May 2, 2014, from what were determined to be natural causes.^[24] He registered under the name "Alfred Jake Fuller" and provided a birth date of November 8, 1970. No records were found to match this information, leading investigators to speculate he used an alias. The man was estimated to be 5'10", at a weight of 255 pounds. He wore a short goatee and had curly brown hair. A blue "discoloration was on the left side of his face and a large nevus was in between his shoulders. His personal items included a prepaid Visa card and a "fugitive recovery agent" document. He was fully clothed and wore two pieces of jewelry on his neck.^[7][25][26]

In 2018 the DNA Doe Project took on his case and was able to identify him that year. His family requested that his identity be withheld for privacy.^[27]

Tracey Hobson AKA "Anaheim Jane Doe"[]

The extensively decomposed remains of a young female were found at the side of a freeway in the Santa Ana Canyon in Anaheim, California, on August 30, 1987. The victim's body had almost completely skeletonized at the time of discovery, although some fragments of soft tissue were still present upon the remains. The victim—originally called "Anaheim Jane Doe" and also known as Jane Doe 87-04092 EL—was a slender young woman who had medium-length light hair, estimated to have been between 15 and 19 years old when she died,^[28] and was speculated to have been a teenage runaway.^[29] Her hands had been severed from her body by her killer or killers, likely as a way to prevent identification via fingerprinting.^[30]

At the crime scene, enough hair was found upon and near the body to determine that the decedent had either blond or light-brown hair, although no personal belongings beyond a red handkerchief were discovered with her remains. Her skull was forensically reconstructed by Shannon Collis in hopes of identifying the body, determining the decedent also had high cheekbones. One of her front teeth was slightly chipped, while three of her other teeth had visible cavities, and six molars were missing. She was estimated to be between five feet one to five feet four inches in height. It is believed that the victim had died approximately six weeks before her body was discovered, meaning she likely died in July 1987. She may possibly have died by repeated stab wounds to her chest area, as incisive damage to two of her ribs suggested.^[31] Therefore, her death was ruled as a definite homicide.^{[32][33][34][35][36]}

In 2018, the identity of Anaheim Jane Doe was established by the DNA Doe Project,^[37] although due to the case being an ongoing homicide investigation, her identity was not released to the media until January 2019. The decedent was a 20-year-old Anaheim resident named Tracey Coreen Hobson.^[7][30][38]

Dana Dodd, AKA "Lavender Doe"[]

On October 29, 2006, the badly burned body of a female aged 17 to 25 was discovered in Kilgore, Texas. The victim's cause of death remained undetermined, yet the manner of death was ruled a homicide due to the body having been set on fire deliberately and the victim had been raped.^[39]

The DNA Doe Project took the case in 2018.^[40][41] In January, the organization announced a tentative identification in the case, which would not be released until the suspect's trial concluded.^[42] Despite this, Dodd's identity was released on February 11, 2019. She was 21 and last seen in Jacksonville, Florida.^[43] Joseph Wayne Burnette, a long term person of interest in the case, confessed to the murder in August 2018, leading him to be charged with her death (and that of another woman, 28 year old Felisha Pearson).^[44][45]

2019 identifications[]

Darlene Norcross AKA "Butler County Jane Doe"[]

External image
Photo of Darlene Norcross with digital reconstruction

On March 7, 2015, the skeletal remains of a white female were located near Tylersville Road in West Chester, Butler County, Ohio. The decedent was examined and estimated to be between 35 and 60 years old at the time of her death, which occurred as early as the fall of 2014. She had unique dental work, including implants. Her DNA did not match any profiles in national databases.

In March 2019 she was identified as Darlene Wilson Norcross.^[46] The cause, time and manner of her death are still undetermined.^[47]

Anne Marie "Annie" Lehman, AKA "Annie Doe"[]

External images
Yearbook Photo of Annie Lehman
NCMEC Reconstruction

On August 19, 1971, the skeleton of a female aged 14 to 25 was discovered in Cave Junction, Oregon. She was white with reddish-colored hair, which was frosted blond. She was between 5'2" and 5'9" at around 125 pounds. She had slightly protruding upper front teeth and had some fillings in her teeth. Some debris was noted to partially conceal the remains, which were found near the border with California. A hunting knife with deer blood was near the bones.^[48]

The decedent wore a checked pink and beige coat, a turtleneck shirt, 34B bra, blue and white underwear, Wrangler jeans and brown heeled shoes. She had several pieces of jewelry, one being a ring with the letters "AL" scratched into the mother of pearl stone. She also carried 38 cents, the oldest coin dated 1970.^[49]

She was reported as wearing a New Zealand-made bra. DNA links were established with New Zealand and Sussex in the United Kingdom by the DNA Doe Project in 2018.^[50][51]

Additionally, a map of northern California campgrounds was found in one of her pockets.^[52]

The DNA Doe Project began work on the case in 2018 and through collaboration with NCMEC and NamUs, "Annie Doe" was identified as 16-year-old Anne Marie Lehman in March 2019, who was coincidentally known by the nickname "Annie" when alive.^[53][54]

Dana Lowrey, AKA "Vicky Dana Doe"[]

On March 10, 2007, the remains of an unknown female were discovered in a wooded area of Marion County, Ohio. She was aged between 15 and 24 and had died between 2002 and 2006, most likely within the two years prior to her discovery. She was between five feet three to five feet nine inches tall and had brown, straight hair.^[55] No clothing or personal effects were found with her body, which was completely skeletonized.

The female had unique physical characteristics. She was predominantly white, but could have had a degree of Hispanic or Asian heritage.^[56] She had also suffered damage to one of her front teeth (although this dental damage may have occurred posthumously). She did appear to have otherwise taken considerable care of her teeth although there was no evidence that she had seen a dentist during her lifetime.^[57]

In September 2016, authorities announced the possibility that this decedent was a victim of alleged serial killer Shawn Grate, who claimed he had killed this victim after encountering her selling magazines door-to-door.^[58] Grate has stated he believes the decedent's name may have been Dana.^[59] She was also called "Vicky" by investigators, as she was discovered near Victory Road.^[60] In January 2018, the results of isotope analysis conducted upon her remains indicated she likely originated from the southern United States, possibly Texas or Florida.^[61] In 2019, Police asked the DNA Doe Project to help identify the body.^[60]

In June 2019 the victim had been identified as Dana Nicole Lowrey. She was 23 at the time of her death in May 2006. She was originally from Minden, Louisiana. She was separated from her husband, with whom she had two young children.^[62]

On September 11, 2019, Grate pleaded guilty to her murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 16 years.^[63][64][65]

Louise Flesher, AKA "Belle in the Well"[]

External image
Photo of Louise Flesher with 3D reconstruction

Flesher was a woman whose remains were discovered in a well in Chesapeake, Ohio on April 22, 1981. She had been strangled to death and her murder is believed to have been committed between 1979 and 1981. She was nicknamed "Belle In the Well" based upon the circumstances of her discovery.^[66]

The victim was believed between 30 and 60 years old at the time of her death and her body bore signs of arthritis in her back. She was about 5 feet 3 inches in height and weighed between 130 and 150 pounds. She had prominent front teeth and cheekbones, and wore multiple layers of clothing. In her possession were a Greyhound Bus ticket and a distinctive coin. In 2018 her autosomal DNA was analyzed by the DNA Doe Project,^[67] and distant relatives were identified in Cabell County, West Virginia.^[68][69] In July 2019, the decedent was identified as Louise Virginia Peterson Flesher.^[70][71] Flesher was born 1915 (about 65 when she died), was native to West Virginia and the mother of three children. She had also resided in Wyoming prior to her death.^[72] This case took 14 months and was particularly hard to solve because there was endogamy in her ancestors (the practice of marrying within a specific social group, caste or ethnic group). Volunteer researchers eventually constructed a family tree of 43,130 people before they identified her.^[73]

A year prior to her identification, Flesher had been compared to the unidentified victim, yet she was believed to have been too old to be a match.^[66]

Debra Jackson, AKA "Orange Socks"[]

Debra Jackson's body was found face-down and nude in a culvert along a highway in Georgetown, Texas on October 31, 1979. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Along with the pair of socks on her body, she also wore an abalone/mother of pearl stone on a ring.

At the time, Jackson was believed to have been a transient or a runaway. Strong evidence supported this, as she had keys from an Oklahoma motel, long, dirty nails, insect bites (revealed to actually be impetigo scars post-identification),^[74] unshaven legs and a makeshift sanitary pad. She had salpingitis due to having untreated gonorrhea.

Henry Lee Lucas confessed to her murder and was sentenced to death. It was later discovered that police officers from the area had him look at crime scene photos and then confess during interviews, which they would use to gain recognition for solving cold cases.

The DNA Doe Project took on the case in 2018. On August 6, 2019, "Orange Socks" was identified as 23-year-old Debra Louise Jackson, who was from Abilene, Texas.^[75]

Nathaniel Terrance "Terry" Deggs AKA "Mill Creek Shed Man"[]

External image
Undated photo of Terry Deggs at a younger age

On January 11, 2015, the decomposed remains of a man were found in a shed in Mill Creek, Washington. It appeared as though the man, who is called Mill Creek Shed Man, had been living in the shed. He is thought to have died about a year before he was found, but it could have been longer.

The man appeared to be between 50 and 65 years old, about 5'11" (some reports state 5’9,” some state 6’1”), and African American. The pinky finger on his right hand was missing. Other findings were a “prominent sternal fissure, healed nasal fracture, lumbar scoliosis, and arthritis.” No cause of death could be ascertained, and there were no signs of foul play.

Local lore stated that the man had permission to live in the shed from a man who once owned the property on which it was located. A man named Jerry Diggs/Deggs lived on the property where the decedent was found, but there was no proof he and Mill Creek Shed Man were the same person. Jerry apparently gave his birth date as 12/31/1949. He claimed to be from the East Coast and to have worked as a security guard for a bank. He stated that he was struck in the head during a bank robbery and received a head injury.

On September 26, 2019 the DNA Doe Project (DDP) announced the successful identification of Mill Creek Shed Man. His name was being withheld by officials at the time. Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office (SCMEO) confirmed the identity on September 2, 2019 by comparing the deceased DNA with DNA submitted by the man's sister, whose name was provided by DDP on August 6, 2019. In December his name was released as 65-year-old Nathaniel Terrance "Terry" Deggs, originally from Baltimore, Maryland and later The Bronx, New York.^[76]

Marcia Bateman AKA "I-196 Jane Doe"[]

External image
Photo of Marcia Bateman with 3D reconstruction

Marcia Bateman's remains were discovered by a hunter not far from the intersection of I-196 and County Road 378 in Van Buren County, Michigan on Oct. 12, 1988. Nearly two months had passed since the 28-year-old was reported missing by her family in Oklahoma. While police in Oklahoma City were actively searching for Bateman, Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Scott Ernestes said, a connection was never drawn between the remains in Michigan and the missing woman. She was finally identified in November 2019. While Bateman's death is ruled suspicious, Ernestes said there are no suspects.^[77]

Michelle "Chelle" Carnall-Burton AKA "Marion County Jane Doe (1987)"[]

External images
Photo of "Chelle" Carnall-Burton
3D Reconstruction

On September 21, 1987, the body of a woman was found in Marion County, Kansas. She had been bound at the hands and ankles, indicating she died from foul play. The victim was at least sixteen years old, but most likely between twenty and thirty-five years old.^[78] Her remains were located behind hay bales and hedges at the side of a road and may have been there for months. A tattoo of a cross was located on her shoulder, although most of her body was skeletonized. She was between five feet six inches and five feet eight inches tall and had brown, four-inch-long hair. She was found with healed fractures on her ribs, indicating she had been in some sort of accident months before she died.^[79] In 2018 police asked the DNA Doe Project to help identify her.^[80]

The victim was identified in December 2019 as Michelle Evon Carnall-Burton, aged 22 at the time of her murder. She had disappeared from Cherryvale, also south-east Kansas in 1986, and had lost contact with her family.^[81]

Bertha Holguín AKA "Phoenix Jane Doe (1997)"[]

External images
Photo of Bertha Holguín
Sketch by Stephen Missal

Bertha Alicia Holguín Barroterán's body was discovered in Phoenix, Arizona in October 1997. She was identified after relatives in New Mexico found out about the case due to greater media exposure.^[82]

Joseph Henry Loveless AKA "Clark County John Doe (1979)"[]

The headless torso of a man was found in 1979, stashed in a burlap sack in Buffalo Cave, near Boise, Idaho. In 1991, a hand was located on the same site, leading to further excavations from which the other hand and legs were discovered. Identification was thought to be implausible, due to the missing head and the huge family tree of the deceased. However, thanks to an 87-year-old California man who agreed to take a DNA test, the remains were identified as those of his grandfather – bootlegger and accused murderer Joseph Henry Loveless. He had been accused of murdering his common-law wife in 1916, but managed to escape imprisonment by using a sawblade hidden in his shoe. The circumstances surrounding his death are, at present, unknown; however, it is believed that he died soon after his escape, as he was found wearing the clothes detailed in his wanted poster.^[83]

2020 identifications[]

Kraig King, AKA "Barron County John Doe (1982)"[]

The skeleton of a young man was discovered by loggers on September 21, 1982, in Dallas, Barron County, Wisconsin. This decedent was estimated to be between 18 and 24 years old at the time of his death. Basic estimations, such as the height, weight and hair color were later calculated. He was about 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9 inches tall and likely weighed 180 to 195 pounds, with a large build. Hair found with the body was light brown.

It is believed that the decedent had been stabbed to death; this was indicated by tears in his western-style plaid shirt. He was also wearing jeans, a denim jacket, and blue shoes with white stripes.

Some distinctive elements as to the victim were also noted. It is possible that he wore glasses, although none were found at the scene. He had received a large amount of dental work in life; this had been performed shortly before he died. He had also had some kind of surgery on his left knee that involved a screw and staple in the tibia. This kind of surgery would have required an extensive hospitalization period that could have lasted up to six months. Serial numbers on the screw and staple were traced, but this did not lead to the location where they had been purchased.^[84]

In December 2019, the DNA Doe Project announced a tentative match for this victim. On January 7, 2020, the Barron County Sheriff's Department and the DNA Doe Project announced that, via matches with familial DNA samples, the victim was confirmed to be Kraig Patrick King (b. 1961), of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. King was last seen alive in fall 1981, and law enforcement believe he was murdered in April or May 1982. Investigation of his homicide is ongoing.^[85]

Sue Ann Huskey, AKA "Corona Girl"[]

On September 25, 1989, the remains of a woman thought to be 18–24 were located in Williamson County, Texas along Interstate 35. She was about 5'2" tall at a weight between 110 and 120 pounds. Her ears were pierced, but only one earring was recovered. The victim also wore a necklace containing a white bead in the center, surrounded by two gold-colored beads on either side. She wore a white shirt with the words "Cinco De Corona" with the bottom cut into fringe, leading to her nickname; black pants and a shirt cut into a bra with the words "American Legends" bearing a Native American design. She wore bikini panties and no shoes. The victim was shot to death.^[86]

On January 14, 2020, after several unsuccessful attempts to create a usable file, it was announced that a match to Sue Ann Huskey was confirmed. Huskey was 17 at the time of her murder and was originally from Sulphur Springs, Texas.^[87][41] The match was made possible after the International Commission on Missing Persons was able to extract DNA from dental and bone remains, after decades of attempts by national laboratories.^[88]

John Frisch, AKA "Peoria County John Doe"[]

On November 13, 2016, a male torso was found in the Illinois River in Schuyler County, and a skull was later found on June 12, 2017, in Kingston Mines. The remains were named the Peoria County John Doe. According to the Peoria County Coroner, the decedent died from blunt force trauma to the head.

On January 27, 2020, the remains were identified as 56-year-old John H. Frisch Jr. Frisch was not reported missing, but used addresses in Peoria and Hawaii throughout his life, according to Peoria County Sheriff's Office. Investigators are retracing Frisch's days prior to his body being found. Mr. Frisch's parents are deceased, and he has very limited family in the area.^[89][41]

Tamara Tigard, AKA "Lime Lady"[]

On April 18, 1980, the mummified corpse of a woman was discovered on the banks of the North Canadian River close to Jones in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. The presence of three gunshot wounds upon her body clearly indicated her death was a homicide.^[90] One of these wounds contained clothing fibers and a dime that had been driven into the body by a .45 caliber bullet. Due to the fact quicklime that had been poured onto her remains in a likely attempt to accelerate decomposition, the woman became known as "Lime Lady".^[90]

She was estimated to be between the ages of 18 and 25, five feet six inches tall and weighed approximately 115 to 120 pounds. She had a heart tattoo on her chest as well as an appendectomy scar. It is believed that she may have been murdered by a biker gang earlier in the year or in 1979, although some contemporary reports indicate she may have been deceased for as little as ten days. Multiple facial reconstructions of the decedent have been created, and her DNA was extracted for profiling in 2014.^[91][92] The DNA Doe Project began DNA testing in 2019, and was able to generate a usable profile by the end of the year.^[93]

It was announced on January 30, 2020 that the victim was identified as 21-year-old Tamara Lee Tigard, a member of the United States Army, last known to reside in Las Vegas, Nevada.^[94][95][96]

Ginger Bibb AKA "Phoenix Jane Doe (2004)"[]

External image
Photo of Ginger Bibb with sketch by Stephen Missal

On April 21, 2004, a woman's skeletal remains were found rolled up in a carpet in Phoenix, Arizona. In February 2020, she was identified as Ginger Lynn Bibb.^[97]

Gary Herbst AKA "Barron County John Doe (2017)"[]

On December 3, 2017, a fragment of a human skull was found on the driveway of a rural residence in Dallas, Wisconsin. Investigators determined that it belonged to a white/Asian-American male between 35 and 55 years old. Investigators determined the cause of death as homicide by a gunshot wound to the head.^[98] Forensic genealogy began on February 25, 2020, and a potential candidate was revealed in less than two days.

On June 23, 2020, the remains were positively identified as those of Gary Albert Herbst. This also marks the first Doe to be identified through the project who did not have a forensic reconstruction made.^[99]

On November 19, 2020, Gary's son and wife, Austin and Connie were charged with second-degree murder in his homicide.^[100]

Jerry Holbert AKA "Kingsport John Doe"[]

External image
Photo of Jerry Holbert (middle) with reconstructions

On August 11, 2003, the decomposed body of a middle aged or elderly white male was found in the Holston River near Riverfront Park in Kingsport, Tennessee. Investigators could not find any sign of foul play and believe that the man had possibly drowned. He also could have washed to the place he was found from anywhere upstream. He was believed to be in the river for between seven and ten days. The man was estimated to be between 40 and 80 years old, was between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall, and weighed between 170 and 180 pounds. He had gray hair and was clean shaven. Eye color could not be ascertained. He was found wearing a pair of blue jeans, a black belt, a white sleeveless button-up shirt with blue and burgundy stripes and a pair of black shoes. The man's description did not match any missing person report in the area, and his fingerprints did not match any in any federal database. The man was found to be missing most of his teeth.

On August 6, 2020, the Kingsport Police Department announced that the decedent was 64-year-old Jerry D. Holbert from Charleston, West Virginia. Holbert, who suffered from dementia, was reported missing on August 4, 2003, after he left his residence and heading to the bus station, planning to visit a relative in Ohio. Circumstances indicate that no foul play was involved. The case was solved through an amateur sleuth's tip.^[101]

Larry Porter AKA "Butler County John Doe (1997)"[]

External images
Undated photo of Larry Porter at a younger age
3D reconstruction

On May 18, 1997, the decomposed body of a middle-aged white male was found in the Great Miami River in Butler County, Ohio. He was between 30 and 60 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed between 120 and 140 pounds. He had a surgical scar on the bone over the right eye and an 'unusually' protruding chin. He also suffered from cirrhosis. All of his teeth had also recently been extracted. He was found wearing blue jeans, white Fruit of the Loom underwear, a brown belt, and a necklace with a metal clasp. He was also found wearing a watch with the band and outer frame present, however the inner case and face were gone. The DNA Doe Project was asked to assist with the case in June, 2019.^[102][103]

In September 2020, through a DNA match to relatives, he was identified as Larry Joe Porter from Dayton, Ohio, who had lost touch with his family while traveling around the area of Butler County. According to a coroner, his death was consistent with being struck by a vehicle, and is not considered homicidal in nature.^[104]

Shirley Cassel AKA "Buena Vista Leg"[]

On July 28, 2018, a child found a severed leg, severed from the knee down, floating in Buena Vista Lake in Kern County, California. No other body parts were located after an extensive search. The leg belonged to a woman who was described as "relatively small" and appeared to not have been severed by traumatic means. Information such as race, age, height and weight could not be initially determined. The leg was examined by the DNA Doe Project in June, 2019, to gain DNA for forensic genealogy.^[105] A genetic admixture test was later conducted and determined that the woman in which the leg belonged to was of over 50% Sub-Saharan descent, meaning she was most likely African American.^[106]

On October 15, 2020, it was announced that the leg belonged to Shirley Mae Cassel from Santa Ana, California. Cassel was reported missing on August 21, 2017, after leaving her residence in Santa Ana. Her car was later lifted from Buena Vista Lake on July 12, 2020 with the rest of her body inside of it. DNA testing concluded that the leg belonged to the remains found in the car, and the remains were identified as Cassel. Investigators believe there was no foul play surrounding her death.^[107]

Anthony Armbrust AKA "Park County John Doe (1974)"[]

On February 14, 1974, the decomposing remains of a young/middle aged man were found by a group of hikers at the bottom of a steep slope near US Route 285 in Grant, Colorado. He was estimated to be between 30 and 60 years old, was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed approximately 160 pounds. He was found wearing blue jeans, a long-sleeve shirt, long johns and boots. He had died sometime during late 1973, about four months prior.

Investigators could not find any definitive signs of foul play. No vehicles or personal effects were found nearby, either.^[108]

On October 20, 2020, he was identified as Anthony John Armbrust III. Armbrust was a leader of a metaphysical church in San Diego, California. Armbrust had apparently made a suicide pact with his wife, Renee Armbrust, after learning that he had emphysema, which he thought was terminal. Renee is still missing to this day. He sent a letter to his church, asking them to retrieve some belongings as well as a German Shepherd puppy he had in his apartment in Golden, Colorado. He stated that he wished to commit suicide in the Colorado Mountains by "being taken by God".^[109]

During genealogy research, the project found that Armbrust had many German and Hungarian ancestors. They also found that one of his highest matches on GEDMatch had been adopted at some point during his life.

James Hamm AKA "Lee County John Doe (1984)"[]

External image
Photo of James Hamm with forensic sketch

On November 17, 1984, the skull and various other skeletal remains of a white male were discovered in a wooded area in Giddings, Texas. The man was estimated to be between 29 and 38 years old, stood between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet 1 inch. Weight, eye color and hair color could not be ascertained. The man had been dead for approximately six months, and a cause of death could not be ascertained. The man had a unique frontal bone which made a sharp dip at the bridge of his nose, which would have caused a rightward deviating nose. Police were able to create a reconstructive sketch of what the man may have looked like in 2008. His case was taken on by the DNA Doe Project in June, 2019.^[110]

On October 21, 2020, the man was conclusively identified as James L. Hamm, after the project was able to find a brother on FamilyTreeDNA, in June. James' brother, who was living in Florida, had said that his brother had been missing since 1984, the same year the skeletal remains were discovered. After DNA was compared between the two men, they were conclusively found to be brothers, and the Doe was identified as James.^[111]

2021 identifications[]

James Freund and Pamela Buckley AKA "Sumter County Does"[]

On August 9, 1976, a pair of young adults were found on a narrow frontage road between Sumter and Florence, South Carolina. They had been shot multiple times. The DNA Doe Project was contacted on July 24, 2019, to assist with identification, and both were identified on January 19, 2021.^[112]

The male, nicknamed "Jock Doe", was identified as James Paul Freund, last seen in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The female was identified as Pamela Mae Buckley, last seen in Colorado Springs, Colorado.^[113]

Wendy Stephens AKA "Jane Doe B-10"[]

External images
Photo of Wendy Stephens
NCMEC Reconstruction

On March 21, 1984, the skeletal remains of a teenage girl were discovered in a grassy area which is now the SeaTac Airport in Seattle, Washington. She was believed to be a possible victim of serial killer, Gary Ridgway. Ridgway had stated that he picked up the girl (who he stated that he assumed was in her 20's) on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway sometime in 1983. He later strangled her to death and buried her near the baseball field where she was found. Investigators are unsure of Ridgway's actual involvement in her death.^[114]

The DNA Doe Project began testing on the remains on June 12, 2020,^[115] and on January 25, 2021, she was identified as Wendy Stephens, aged 14, of Denver, Colorado.^[116] Thus far, she is the youngest decedent to have been identified by the Project.

Erica Hunt AKA "Evangeline Parish Jane Doe"[]

On December 30, 2018, the partially buried, skeletal remains of a woman were found in a rural area a distance from Ville Platte in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana. They had been buried in an old barn. She was estimated to be of Cajun French and African American ancestry and was between 25 and 35 years old. Weight, height, hair color and eye color could not be ascertained. Investigators initially believed that she had been buried on the property for up to ten years. A witness also gave detectives information, saying that the owner of the property which she was found had been involved with high risk females. The DNA Doe Project was asked to assist with identification on August 10, 2019.^[117]

She was identified on February 5, 2021 as Erica Nicole Hunt of Opelousas, Louisiana. She had gone missing on July 4, 2016.^[118]

Dennis McConn AKA "Jackson County John Doe (1978)"[]

External images
Yearbook photo with McConn highlighted
Reconstruction with glasses

On August 15, 1978, a group of loggers found the bones of a middle-aged man near Knapp Township, Wisconsin. His skull, lower mandible, and various vertebrae were found. The cause of death could not be ascertained, but was deemed a homicide based on the circumstances. He was estimated to be between 28 and 52 years old. Most other details could not be ascertained with what little bones were found, however it is believed that he may have had a pierced ear, due to a silver Medi-Stud earring being found close by.^[119] The DNA Doe Project was asked to assist with identification of his remains in May 2019.^[120]

He was tentatively identified by the project in February, 2021, and his identity was announced on March 31, 2021 as Dennis Regan McConn of Kenosha, Wisconsin. He had been reported missing in 1977.^[121]

Jenifer Denton AKA "Charlene"[]

External images
Photo of Jenifer Denton
Sketch

On August 5, 1988, the skeletal remains of a young/middle aged African American female were found in a sparsely populated area along Beaver Creek in the Willow Slough State Fish and Wildlife Area in Morocco, Indiana. She was found with another individual by the name of Tony. She was estimated to be between 18 and 45 years old and was 5 feet 6 inches tall. She had black hair. Weight and eye color could not be ascertained. She was described as having good dental hygiene. She was found wearing a pair of Jordache jeans with a safety pin with the number 450 stamped on it.^[122] The project was asked to assist with identification in May 2020.^[123]

On March 6, 2021, it was announced that "Charlene" had been identified as Jenifer Noreen Denton of Joliet, Illinois. She had gone missing in 1987.^[124]

Shirley Soosay AKA "Kern County Jane Doe (1980)"[]

External image
Photo of Shirley Soosay

On July 14, 1980, the body of a woman originally thought to be of Hispanic ethnicity was found in an almond orchard in Delano, California. She had been sexually assaulted and stabbed to death, and had been deceased for approximately one day. She was estimated to be 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 115 pounds. She had shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes, as well as two professionally done tattoos, one of a heart with the name "Shirley" inside, and the words "Love you" and "Seattle" on one arm, and the other of a rose with the words "Mother" and "I love you" above and beneath the rose, respectively, on the other arm. She was found wearing a pink blouse, a pair of blue denim pants, blue socks, white slip-on shoes, a white panty girdle and multicolor panties. She may have used the names "Becky" or "Rebecca Ochoa" and may have been employed at an apple orchard.

In 2015, it was announced that DNA found on the woman's body, as well as DNA from a woman found in Ventura County, California, were linked to murderer Wilson Chouest. He was convicted in 2018 of their murders and sentenced to life in prison. Chouest claimed that he did not know the victims.^[125]

The DNA Doe Project was tasked with assisting in the woman's identification in July 2018, but genealogy research did not begin until May 2019. It was discovered at that point that the decedent was not Hispanic but of First Nations ancestry, most likely Cree. On April 23, 2021, it was announced that Kern County Jane Doe had been identified as Shirley Ann Soosay of Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada after Soosay's niece recognized a reconstruction of her on a public outreach announcement by the DNA Doe Project. Soosay is one of the first decedents of First Nations ancestry to be identified by forensic genealogy, as well as the first to be identified after the Project reached out to the public for potential leads.^[126]

John Brandenburg Jr. AKA "Brad"[]

External images
Photo of John Brandenburg Jr.
NCMEC Reconstruction (Note: remains were skeletal upon discovery, so hair style was an estimation)

On October 18, 1983, the bodies of four young men were discovered partially buried in a shallow grave near US Route 41 in rural Newton County, Indiana, by a pair of mushroom hunters. Each victim was discovered to have been buried for several months, buried face upwards, with sections of their bodies exposed and loosely covered in loose soil and brush. The victims were linked to a serial killer known as the "Highway Murderer". One victim wore a parka, while the others wore clothing implying that they had died in the spring or summer. Two of the victims were soon identified as Michael Bauer and John Bartlett—both murdered in March 1983. The DNA Doe Project was tasked with the identifications of both unidentified decedents—known as "Adam" and "Brad"—in late 2020 and March 2021 respectively.

The individual responsible for all four murders was later identified as Larry Eyler, who ultimately confessed to having murdered 22 young men across the Midwestern United States. Eyler later confessed to his attorney that he had met the two unidentified victims by chance, and that "Brad" had been introduced to him by his alleged accomplice, Robert Little, in mid- or late-May 1983.

"Brad" was found to be a young white male, most likely aged between 17 and 28 years old. He was between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed between 130 and 180 pounds. He had medium length, reddish/auburn, wavy hair. He had received several dental fillings and had severely fractured his nose and left ankle during his life. He also had two known tattoos on his right forearm: one a crudely inscribed cross with two circular marks; the other a rectangle or U-shape with a single circular mark.^[127]

On 2 April 2021, DNA from this individual was uploaded to GEDmatch.^[128] Less than a month later, "Brad" was conclusively identified as 19-year-old John Ingram Brandenburg Jr. of Chicago, Illinois.^[129]

Karen Knippers AKA "Pulaski County Jane Doe (1981)"[]

External image
Photo of Karen Knippers with reconstruction

On May 25, 1981, the body of a young white (with possible Native American and Hispanic admixture) female was discovered in a low water crossing near Highway MM, just north of Dixon, Missouri. She had been beaten and strangled to death with a pair of pantyhose. She was between 25 and 40 years old, was between 5 feet 1 inch and 5 feet 5 inches tall, and weighed 130 pounds. She had black hair and brown/hazel eyes. She was also found to have a slightly darker complexion and high cheek bones. She also had a full upper denture plate. She was found wearing a dark blue long-sleeved blouse with white pinstripes, blue jeans, blue bikini panties, and a bra with the name "Jubel", "Julie", or "Juliet" written on it. Isotope testing determined that she had only lived in Missouri for a few years before her demise, and was likely from the southeastern US, between Texas, Georgia, and Florida.^[130]

The DNA Doe Project began investigating her identity in May, 2019. Investigations uncovered an extensive family tree during their investigation.^[131]

On May 25, 2021, she was positively identified as 32-year-old Karen Kaye Knippers of St. Louis, Missouri.^[132][133]

Dawn Plonsky Wilkerson AKA "Simpson County Jane Doe"[]

External images
Photo of Dawn Plonsky
3D Reconstruction

On October 9, 2001, the skeletal remains of a young white female were found by a survey crew at the bottom of the shoulder of Interstate 65 near the Tennessee state line in rural Simpson County, Kentucky. The cause of death was not ascertained, but the case was deemed a homicide due to the circumstances. She had been deceased for between two weeks and two months. She was estimated to be between 25 and 35 years old, was between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighed between 90 and 130 pounds. She had long reddish-brown or reddish-blonde hair. She also had a healed fracture on her upper right arm, and a tattoo of the outline of a rose on her left breast. She had a scar on her face and right wrist. She was missing multiple teeth and had very poor dental health. She also had given birth to a child in the past, and may have been pregnant when she died. She was found wearing a white/tan shirt, blue cotton shorts, and black sandals. Two rings were also found near the body: a gold wedding-style band, and a sterling silver ring in a guilloche cigar band style, with a painted blue enamel background with flowers and leaves. The silver ring was traced to the Vargas Manufacturing Company in Providence, Rhode Island.^[134]

Her case was taken on by the project in May 2019. Isotope testing found that she may have been native to the Great Lakes region or New England.

On July 30, 2021, it was announced that the woman had been identified as Dawn Clare Plonsky Wilkerson of Nashville, Tennessee. Plonsky was ten years older than the projected age estimate.^[135]

Brittany Davis AKA "Gwinnett County Jane Doe"[]

External images
Photo of Brittany Davis
Artistic Rendition by Kelly Lawson

On April 11, 2021, the partial skeletal remains of a young female of indeterminate ethnicity was found in a makeshift campsite behind an address in Buford, Georgia, after a police officer and complainant were investigating trash being dumped at the area. The woman's skull, and various other remains were found inside of a tent at the site. The woman was estimated to be between 18 and 30 years old. Height, weight, hair color and eye color could not be determined.^[136] Despite being a recent discovery, investigators believe her remains had been at the location for at least two years.

The project was contacted to help investigate the woman's identity in mid-June 2021. ^[137]

She was identified in late August as Brittany Michelle Davis of Greenville, South Carolina. She was reported missing by her family on March 16, 2020. Her fiancé, Michael Lee Wilkerson, was arrested and charged with her murder. ^[138] Davis is the second case where a decedent was identified while still in the 'pending' phase, after Jerry Holbert.

Laura Jordan AKA "Phoenix Jane Doe (2017)"[]

External image
Photo of Laura Jordan with sketch by Stephen Missal

On July 9, 2017, a middle aged or elderly white woman was found deceased behind a residence in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. She had only been deceased for a few hours. She was estimated to be between 44 and 70 years old, was 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 124 pounds. She had long brown hair, but her eye color could not be ascertained. She had a multichromatic tattoo on her left-upper chest of a rose with the name "Stuart", as well as an illegible three letter word. Her lower right leg had a monochromatic tattoo of the words "Laura N Layla". She was found wearing a white shirt with green dots or sequins, a green shirt, a pair of black pants, possibly Dickies brand, a white bra, a pair of polarized white sunglasses, and a pair of gray K-Swiss brand shoes with blue laces. She also had a green hair tie around her left wrist as well as an orange and black hair tie.^[139]

The project was asked to assist with her identification in April 2021. Genealogical research was conducted with the participation of students from the University of New Haven as interns. Among the hurdles faced in this case were endogamy and difficulties finding public records.^[140]

On September 1, 2021, it was announced that she had been identified as 62-year-old Laura Jean Jordan. She had died of heat exhaustion. ^[141]

John C. Kraicinski AKA "Luther"[]

On July 19, 1989, the decomposed remains of a young white male were discovered behind a residence in the weeds near Flat Rock Run Creek in Caledonia, Ohio, by a group of children who were canoeing down the creek. The cause of death could not be determined due to decomposition, although investigators noticed a mark on his neck, suggesting foul play. The creek was also very shallow, discounting the possibility that he drowned. He was estimated to be between 22 and 35 years old, was approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighed between 140 and 170 pounds. He had brown/black hair and a slight beard. He was found wearing a flannel, short-sleeved, red and black, striped shirt, multicolored, a knitted sweater with diamond and zigzag designs, a pair of blue jeans, dark red, ribbed socks, and a pair of black Adidas sneakers. Investigators believe that he was not from the area, as he did not match any missing persons reports.^[142]

The DNA Doe Project began assisting with the man's identification around July 2019.^[143] Tissue samples were sent to DNA Solutions and additional extraction was performed at the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) in The Hague. It was ascertained that the decedent had Eastern European ancestry and a family with a missing relative was identified by mid-October 2020.^[144]

The man's identity was revealed as 34-year-old John C. Kraicinski. He was last seen in 1989 at his father’s home in Galion, Ohio. Kraicinski suffered from a mental illness and had a habit of wandering, sometimes out of state. He wasn't reported missing as his family assumed that he started a new life elsewhere. ^[145][146]

Francis Wayne Alexander AKA "Body 5"[]

Francis Wayne Alexander (b. March 11, 1955^[147]) was one of the final six unidentified victims of serial killer John Wayne Gacy. His remains were recovered from the crawlspace of Gacy's house in Norwood Park Township, Illinois on December 26, 1978 and labeled simply as Body 5, as his were the fifth set of remains unearthed from beneath Gacy's property. His identification was announced on October 25, 2021. Alexander had been living in Chicago at the time of his death but was originally from North Carolina.^[148]

Alexander's precise date of death is estimated to have occurred anytime between early 1976 and March 15, 1977. However, no evidence exists of his being alive after 1976.^[149] Moreover, the fact the trench in which his body was discovered was dug by Gacy employee and victim Gregory Godzik shortly after the commencement of Godzik's employment at Gacy's contracting firm on or about November 22, 1976 and before Godzik's own murder on December 12, 1976 indicates Alexander's death most likely occurred between November 1976 and March 15, 1977 (the date the victim discovered directly above the body of Alexander was murdered).^[150]

John Lindberg Scott AKA "Delafield John Doe"[]

In September of 1977, an unidentified man was involved in a police pursuit when he lost control of his car and crashed in Delafield, Wisconsin. The vehicle had been stolen in Gurnee, Illinois. The Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office approached the project in 2019 and a sister of the decedent was identified by 2021. The decedent was identified as 27-year-old John Lindberg Scott from Bristol, Tennessee.^[151]

Richard Bunts/Bunce AKA "Hudson John Doe"[]

On August 16, 2019, excavations on a real estate development site in Hudson, Ohio uncovered the fossilized, skeletal remains of a male subject. Due to the state of the remains, it was believed that the decedent had been deceased for at least 50 to 75 years. According to Dr. Lisa Kohler, the medical examiner for Summit County, there were reports of people being buried on the property in the mid-1800s.

On November 15, 2021, the DNA Doe Project, in conjunction with the Hudson Police Department, announced that the decedent had been identified as Richard Bunts/Bunce, who died in 1852 and was buried in what was then the family plot. This case is currently the oldest to be solved by the organization to date.^[152]

Stephen Patrick Archer AKA "Rohnert Park John Doe"[]

On January 2, 2015 the body of a white male was found along an access road on Commerce Boulevard in Rohnert Park, California. It was determined the man was between the ages of 40 to 55 years old; he was estimated to be 5′ 11″ tall and weighed 220 lbs. He had a full gray beard, but, although partially bald, the rest of his hair was brown. He wore prescription, aviator-style glasses with a metal frame. A black mountain bike with a towable child carrier attached was found near the body. A number of journals were in the carrier containing writing indicating the deceased had a keen interest in mathematics, physics, and science. Authorities speculated the man was a transient traveling through the area.

In November 2021, the project identified the man as 48-year-old Stephen Patrick Archer of Seattle, Washington; his identity was released on December 9, 2021. Little information is available about his life, but investigators do not consider his death suspicious.^[153]

Baseline Road John Doe[]

On September 11, 1983, a murder victim believed to be about 50 years old was found in a field near Baseline Road and South Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona. He had been bludgeoned to death in a drunken altercation. He was identified in November 2021 and his identity was withheld from the public as his family requested privacy.^[154]

Kim Ryan Casey AKA "Smith County John Doe"[]

On December 23, 2004, juveniles found a decomposed human skeleton in a barn in a wooded area near the intersection of Hwy 69S and FM 2813 in southern Tyler, Texas. A blue jacket, blue jeans, a black baseball cap, and brown Rockport shoes were found on the skeleton. The Tyler Forensic Medical Examiner determined the remains were that of a white/Caucasian male between 27 and 42 years old, approximately 5′ 8″ to 6’ 2” in height, with a medium to large frame and average muscle development. It was estimated the man died months earlier that same year.

On December 14, 2021, he was identified as 52-year-old Kim Ryan Casey, a homeless man. According to authorities, he died of natural causes.^[155]

Frank Little Jr. AKA "Twinsburg John Doe"[]

On February 18, 1982, the partial remains of an unidentified African American male were discovered by workers at a nearby business behind a now closed establishment at 3047 Cannon Road in Twinsburg, Ohio. They initially found a skull, but later, about 40 to 50 feet away, a garbage bag of bones. The deceased’s body, which showed evidence of stabbing, blunt force trauma, and postmortem fire, had been dismembered before being stuffed into the garbage bag. A forensic anthropologist estimated the man was small in stature, about 5′6", and was between 20 and 35 years old. The deceased may have had a noticeably humped back or slouched posture due to kyphosis. Investigators theorize the man or his killer may have worked at the former Chrysler Stamping Plant in Twinsburg.

On December 14, 2021, he was identified as 39-year-old Frank "Frankie" Little Jr., a native of Cleveland who was a guitarist for the R&B group The O'Jays in the 1960s. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are unclear, but police are now investigating his murder in order to catch his killer.^[156][157]

2022 identifications[]

Stephanie Judson AKA "Kent County Jane Doe"[]

On July 31, 1997, a maintenance worker picking up trash in a roadside park in Ada Township, Michigan found human remains in a wooded area behind some outbuildings. The body, upon examination by an anthropology team from Western Michigan University, was determined to be that of a black/African American female between 20 to 30 years old and 5’3” to 5’7”. Authorities found only a dark blue leg warmer near the remains. Her teeth showed a lack of dental care, and she likely died sometime between March and August of 1996.

On January 4, 2022, the Kent County Sheriff's Office revealed that the Doe had been identified as 31-year-old Stephanie Renee Judson. She was born in Benton Harbor but later moved to Grand Rapids, but at present, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and apparent murder remain under investigation.^[158]

Shelly Rae Christian AKA "Matilda"[]

On November 6, 1994 rabbit hunters discovered human skeletal remains in a cornfield near a wooded area just north of I-96 in Wright Township, Ottawa County, Michigan. The deceased was female and most likely died between May and September 1994. The decedent was identified on January 20, 2022 as 29-year-old Shelly Rae Christian of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who was last seen by her family in October 1993.^[159][160]

Gordon Rexrode AKA "Gwinnett County John Doe (2003)"[]

On June 20, 2003, human skeletonized remains were discovered in a storm basin along Craig Drive in Lawrenceville, Georgia. A homemade pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine was recovered near the remains. On the body was a short sleeved, cotton “Christopher Hawes” shirt, originally white or beige with a fine blue plaid pattern, and athletic socks. Forensic investigators determined the remains were that of a White/Caucasian male, between 45 and 55 years old, approximately 5’7-5’9″ tall. On February 3, 2022, he was identified as 70-year-old Gordon Rexrode, a homeless vagrant originally from North Carolina.^[161]

Roberta Seyfert AKA "Lilydale Jane Doe"[]

A young woman whose body was discovered in the Mississippi River close to Lilydale, Minnesota on June 11, 1976. The decedent was identified as 22-year-old Roberta Seyfert on February 4, 2022. Her death is estimated to have occurred several weeks prior to the discovery of her body.^[162]

Steven Gooch AKA "Cliff"/"Marion, Flathead County John Doe 2003"[]

On October 26, 2003, a couple who were out hunting near Red Gate Road in Marion, Montana found a duffel bag, several items, a shoe and a skull. Investigations from local officers uncovered even more items and additional bones, which, upon testing, were revealed to belong to an unidentified male who died in an inconclusive manner between 1995 and 2002. The investigators over the case nicknamed the decedent "Cliff Doe".^[163]

In February 2022, the decedent was identified as 29-year-old Steven Gooch, who was reported missing by his family in 1996. They had lost contact with him the year prior while he was on a possible trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. Investigations are underway to determine how he had died.^[164]

Ongoing cases[]

Following is a chart of the DNA Doe Project's ongoing cases, along with an indication of where each case is in the process:

Name	Unidentified remains discovered		Status
	Date	Place
Live Oak Street Doe[165]	10 July 1986	Houston, Texas	Identified[41]
Pillar Point John Doe[165]	26 November 1983	Half Moon Bay, California	Identified[166][167]
Harper Avenue Jane Doe	10 February 1987	Detroit, Michigan	Identified[41][168]
Philadelphia Jane Doe[169]	10 December 2017	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Identified[41][170]
John Clinton Doe[171]	26 November 1995	Bradford, Wisconsin	Tentatively identified[172][173]
Jefferson County John Doe	10 March 2019	Dandridge, Tennessee	Genealogical analysis[41][174]
Jenny Ottawa Co	20 October 1967	Blendon Township, Michigan	Genealogical analysis[41]
Bedford Jane Doe	6 October 1971	Bedford, New Hampshire	Genealogical analysis[41][175]
Nation River Lady	3 May 1975	Casselman, Ontario	Genealogical analysis[176]
Grundy County Jane Doe	2 October 1976	Erienna Township, Illinois	Genealogical analysis[41]
Ramsey County Jane Doe	20 July 1977	Saint Paul, Minnesota	Genealogical analysis[41]
Jackson County Doe	30 August 1978	Waterloo Township, Michigan	Genealogical analysis[41]
Ventura County Jane Doe[177]	18 July 1980	Westlake Village, California	Genealogical analysis[41][178]
Joanne English[179]	11 October 1980	Rockledge, Florida	Genealogical analysis[180]
Reservation Road Jane Doe	19 October 1981	Olympia, Washington	Genealogical analysis[41][181]
Plainview Jane Doe	16 February 1982	near Plainview, Texas	Genealogical analysis[41][182]
Adam	18 October 1983	Lake Village, Indiana	Genealogical analysis[41][183]
Vernon County Jane Doe	4 May 1984	Westby, Wisconsin	Genealogical analysis[41][184]
Mowry Wetlands Jane Doe	24 October 1985	Newark, California	Genealogical analysis[41][185]
Luce County John Doe	24 October 1987	McMillan Township, Michigan	Genealogical analysis
White Socks[186]	15 November 1987	Twin Buttes Reservoir, Texas	Genealogical analysis[41][187]
Julie Doe[188]	25 September 1988	Clermont, Florida	Genealogical analysis[41][189]
Rebel Ray	3 October 1988	Georgetown, Texas	Genealogical analysis[41][190]
Grays Harbor County Jane Doe	24 October 1988	Elma, Washington	Genealogical analysis[41][191]
Grant County John Doe	9 April 1989	Williamstown, Kentucky	Genealogical analysis[41][192]
Le Flore County Jane Doe	18 January 1990	Big Cedar, Oklahoma	Genealogical analysis[41][193]
New Britain Jane Doe[194]	11 October 1991	New Britain, Connecticut	Genealogical analysis[41][195]
Apache Junction Jane Doe[196]	6 August 1992	Apache Junction, Arizona	Genealogical analysis[197]
Betty The Bag Lady	23 August 1992	New Buffalo, Michigan	Genealogical analysis[41][198]
Kenosha County John Doe[199]	27 August 1993	Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin	Genealogical analysis[200]
Trabuco Canyon John Doe	13 December 1996	Trabuco Canyon, California	Genealogical analysis[41][201]
Tukwila Bones 03-342908	8 January 1997	Tukwila, Washington	Genealogical analysis[41][202]
Monique	4 February 1997	Phoenix, Arizona	Genealogical analysis[41][203]
Lake Michigan Jane Doe	24 October 1997	Manistee, Michigan	Genealogical analysis[41]
Roberto	19 November 1997	Blissfield Township, Michigan	Genealogical analysis[41][204]
Box Mike	11 July 1998	Phoenix, Arizona	Genealogical analysis[41]
Jonesport John Doe	24 July 2000	Jonesport, Maine	Genealogical analysis[41][205]
Redondo Beach Jane Doe	22 August 2001	Redondo Beach, California	Genealogical analysis[41][206]
Gregg County Jane Doe	21 May 2002	Gregg County, Texas	Genealogical analysis[41]
St. Croix County Jane Doe	21 October 2002	near Houlton, Wisconsin	Genealogical analysis[41]
Broadway Street Jane Doe	21 November 2004	Phoenix, Arizona	Genealogical analysis[41][207]
Birchwood John Doe	28 August 2006	Birchwood, Tennessee	Genealogical analysis[41][208]
Bowmanville Jane Doe	27 October 2006	Bowmanville, Ontario	Genealogical analysis
La Vergne Jane Doe	14 November 2007	La Vergne, Tennessee	Genealogical analysis[41][209]
Mecklenburg County John Doe	24 December 2008	Charlotte, North Carolina	Genealogical analysis[41][210]
Millie	17 June 2009	Kenora, Ontario	Genealogical analysis[41]
Van Buren County John Doe (2010)	29 October 2010	Covert Township, Michigan	Genealogical analysis[41][211]
Mecklenburg County Jane Doe	17 March 2011	Charlotte, North Carolina	Genealogical analysis[41][212]
Kern County Jane Doe 2011	29 March 2011	Arvin, California	Genealogical analysis[41][213]
Ms. Startex	26 October 2011	Startex, South Carolina	Genealogical analysis[41][214]
China Black	c. 2013	Detroit, Michigan	Genealogical analysis[215]
Peter Kalama Lane Jane Doe	6 November 2013	near Yelm, Washington	Genealogical analysis[41][216]
West Manchester John Doe[217]	18 November 2013	West Manchester Township, Pennsylvania	Genealogical analysis[218]
Allegan County John Doe	31 July 2014	Ganges Township, Michigan	Genealogical analysis[41][219]
Carson City Jane Doe	17 March 2015	Carson City, Nevada	Genealogical analysis[41][220]
Kings County Jane Doe	13 May 2015	Corcoran, California	Genealogical analysis[221]
Portland Jane Doe	22 May 2015	Portland, Maine	Genealogical analysis[41][222]
Summit County John Doe	10 July 2016	Breckenridge, Colorado	Genealogical analysis[41][223]
St. Tammany Parish John Doe	29 July 2016	near Slidell, Louisiana	Genealogical analysis[41][224]
Mercer Island John Doe	6 May 2018	Mercer Island, Washington	Genealogical analysis[41]
Trinity Bellwoods Park Jane Doe	10 June 2020	Toronto, Ontario	Genealogical analysis[41]
St Louis John Doe	7 March 1992	St. Louis, Missouri	Genealogical analysis[41]
Kilgore Jane Doe	23 December 2000	Kilgore, Texas	Genealogical analysis[41]
Van Buren County John Doe (1987)	24 December 1987	Keeler Township, Michigan	Additional bioinformatics or lab needed[41][225]
Benton County Jane Doe	8 October 1976	Otterbein, Indiana	Sequencing[41]
Columbia County Jane Doe	8 May 1982	Caledonia, Wisconsin	Sequencing[41][226]
Healdsburg Jane Doe	24 January 1983	Healdsburg, California	Sequencing[41][227]
John Lehman	8 February 1999	Webster, Wisconsin	Sequencing[41]
Jane Doe B-20	21 August 2003	Kent, Washington	Sequencing[41][228]
Wayne County Jane Doe	26 December 1982	Wayne County, Indiana	Sequencing[41]
Baker County John Doe	5 September 1995	Macclenny, Florida	Sequencing[41]
Hardin County John Doe	30 December 2006	Elizabethtown, Kentucky	Sequencing[41]
Hartford Circus Fire Jane Doe 2109	6 July 1944	Hartford, Connecticut	Extraction[41][229]
Mr. X	11 December 1972	Johnson County, Texas	Extraction[41][230]
Maury County Jane Doe	14 February 1975	Maury County, Tennessee	Extraction[41]
Rock County John Doe	13 March 1981	Beaver Creek Township, Minnesota	Extraction[41]
Smith County Jane Doe	1 October 1985	Smith County, Texas	Extraction[41]
Chimney Doe	3 September 1989	Madison, Wisconsin	Extraction[41]
Freeborn County John Doe	6 April 2015	Albert Lea, Minnesota	Extraction[41]
Gwinnett County John Doe 2015	21 July 2006	Buford, Georgia	Extraction[41]
Porter County Jane Doe	24 September 2021	Jackson Township, Indiana	Extraction[41]
Camp Fire Victims	8 - 25 November 2018	Butte County, California	Various stages[231]
Hartford Circus Fire Jane Doe 4512	6 July 1944	Hartford, Connecticut	Stalled[41][232]
Swimsuit Boy	9 August 1973	Houston, Texas	Stalled[41][233]
Alachua County John Doe	13 February 1979	Alachua County, Florida	Stalled[41][234]

See also[]

• List of unidentified murder victims in the United States
• Unidentified decedent

References[]

External links[]

• DNA Doe Project web site