DNA Doe Project October 2023 Newsletter

DNA DOE PROJECT NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 2023

DNA Doe Project identifies human remains through community collaboration

and cutting-edge investigative genetic genealogy.

Recent Confirmed Identifications

Gail Marlene Johnson

New Brighton Jane Doe 2000

The New Brighton, Minnesota Department of Public Safety has confirmed the DNA Doe Project's identification of a woman found deceased in 2000 as Gail Marlene Johnson. Gail was 40 years old, and had been living in Minneapolis, just south of New Brighton. Her body was discovered September 15, 2000 in a swampy area of Long Lake Regional Park. Authorities believe she was murdered and are trying to find people who knew her to gather more information.

As in many cases, now that a victim has been identified, a murder investigation can finally begin.

The genealogy on the case proved very challenging, with lines leading to Norway and Sweden. The team extends their condolences to Gail's loved ones, who now have answers after twenty-three years.

Identified Broadway Street Phoenix Jane DoeAmelia Munoz Loera

Amelia Muñoz Loera

Broadway Street Phoenix Jane Doe 2004

The DNA Doe Project and the Phoenix, Arizona Police Department have confirmed the identity of a woman whose body was found on November 21, 2004 as 41-year-old Amelia Muñoz Loera. Ms. Muñoz Loera was found at 15th Street and Broadway in Phoenix minutes after being struck and killed by a car that left the scene. Even though her face was recognizable, investigators were unable to determine her identity through traditional police methods for 16 years, so they brought the case to the DNA Doe Project to try to resolve it through Investigative Genetic Genealogy.

Developing a DNA profile for Ms Muñoz Loera was fairly straightforward, but building her family tree was challenging. She was born in Mexico and has significant family ties to the Aguascalientes region, where many generations living in the same area led to endogamy, where a person relates to some DNA family members in multiple ways. Cases involving recent immigrants and minority populations are also more difficult to solve because far fewer of their relatives have uploaded to the databases at GEDmatch.com and FTDNA.com.

The volunteer team researching the case put in more than 1300 hours of work. Fortunately, Ms. Muñoz Loera's niece made the decision to put her DNA into the Family Tree DNA database to try and locate her aunt - whose DNA upload was waiting for her there. Amelia Muñoz Loera's name has been returned to her, and her family finally has answers and can lay her to rest with dignity.

Our Newest Cases

Turkey Point John Doe 1998

On April 18, 1998, a fisherman discovered the decomposing body of an adult Caucasian man in the Susquehanna River near Turkey Point in Lancaster, PA.

The John Doe was estimated to be 6’1” tall and 260 pounds. His age could not be determined. The letter “R” was tattooed on his right shoulder. No clothing or personal effects were found with the body, and authorities could find no evidence of trauma. The man was believed to have been deceased for approximately two weeks.

Lincoln Highlands John Doe 2023

On April 10, 2023, a man was found deceased under an overpass in the area of 103rd Street and US Highway 69 in Overland Park, Kansas. The John Doe was between 35 and 50 years old with a thin build. He was approximately 5’7” tall and 124 pounds with short, black, gray, and white white head hair, and mostly grey/white mustache and goatee. He had brown eyes and multiple linear scars on his left forearm and a faded character tattoo on the back of his upper left shoulder.

The man used the name Alberto Gomez when he spoke to an Overland Park Police Officer a month prior to his death, but the details he provided proved to be false. According to the man, he had recently moved to Overland Park after having problems being robbed in camps and shelters in Kansas City.

Minneapolis Rail Car John Doe 2003

On December 16, 2003, the body of an adult white man, estimated to be between 30-45 years old, was discovered on a rail car in a train yard in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The train had traveled to Minneapolis from Illinois with a stop in Portage, Wisconsin.

The John Doe had blue eyes and brown thinning head hair, a beard and a mustache. He was approximately 5’8” tall and weighed 131 pounds, with a smallpox vaccination scar on his upper right arm. He had several missing teeth and a fractured crown.

Brentwood Pauper Doe 1999

This fascinating historical case will test the reach of Investigative Genetic Genealogy and challenge the skills of our experienced researchers!

In September 1999, skeletal remains of at least five people were inadvertently disinterred from a local residence in Brentwood, New Hampshire. These remains may represent burials from the Brentwood Poor Farm circa 1841 -1868.

DNA from one of the individuals is being sequenced in the hope that he or she can be identified as a recorded resident of the Poor Farm. This will confirm that the remains came from the cemetery, and allow all of the individuals to be re-interred in the town cemetery in a dignified manner.

As a non-profit organization, we rely on public support to identify people like those listed above and return them to their loved ones.

Please join us by making a one-time or recurring donation.

A gift of any size makes a big difference!

PLEASE DONATE TODAY!

September Featured Case Results

Jane Doe Portland Maine was found newly deceased on May 22, 2015 on the rocks on a beach a short distance from Fore Street in Portland, Maine. A woman 30-50 years old of Korean descent, it is believed she committed suicide by drowning in the ocean. Please continue to share this case to encourage people of Korean heritage to upload their DNA to GEDmatch and Family Tree DNA. Even distant DNA family matches could help us narrow down her family lineage and return her to her loved ones.

October Will Have SEVEN Featured Cases!

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, and to raise awareness

of the large number of John and Jane Does of Latin American heritage, we will feature seven cases through our social media channels through the month of October.

Please share each one and help us raise awareness of the need for more people with Spanish speaking ancestors to upload their DNA to GEDmatch and Family Tree DNA.

More DNA family matches are the key to bringing them home.

Click each of our October Featured Cases to learn more:

We can already tell that October is shaping up to be a busy month! We look forward to sharing more interesting cases and other news with you in our November newsletter. Do you know someone who is interested in the DNA Doe Project or Investigative Genetic Genealogy? Please hit 'forward' and share our newsletter with them!

Thanks for following our work!

Your friends at the DNA Doe Project