Identified! IL - Will Co, WhtRace UP5206, 15-24, in demolished factory near I-80, May'97 - Marie O’Brien

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Romulus

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854UFIL - Unidentified Female
No_Image_Available_female.jpg


Date of Discovery: May 13, 1997
Location of Discovery: Rockdale, Will County, Illinois
Estimated Date of Death: 1985-1997
State of Remains: Partial skeletal
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 15-24 years old
Race: Mixed. Primarily White and Black with some East and Central Asian ancestry.
Sex: Female
Height: 5'1" to 5'9"
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: A smooth walled sesion is present on the articular facet of the head of one of the left ribs. A lesion produced by Schmorl's node is present on the superior aspect of the centrum of one lumbar vertebra, ossified flavan lingaments are present on the same element. Arthritic changes may have been present in this person's back.

Identifiers
Dentals: X-rays are available. Distal to tooth #31 is an uninterrupted #32 (wisdom tooth). No dental work on existing teeth. Upper mandible and teeth not available. Of the lower teeth only #31 through #27 were located.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Discovery
On May 13, 1997, a fragmented skeleton was found in the rubble of a demolished factory in Joliet, Illinois that was transported to the nearby town of Rockdale. The building had been abandoned and was frequented by homeless people for several years before the demolition. The location was described as "a high crime area" and was easily accessable from I-80.

Isotope analysis performed by the Parabon NanoLabs indicated she may have spent time in The Northern United States, Southern Canada or the Rocky Mountain States.

Evidence indicated the skeletal remains were moved two times, consistent with the building demolition followed by the removal of the body a few years later. Remains are in evidence at the Will County Sheriff department. The area of the building was known for being a high crime area. It is also easily accessible from I-80. African 21%, European 56% according to a study completed by Parabon Genomics 2017. Some East and Central Asian ancestry.

height may range between 61.0 and 69.3 inches.

This individual may have died before 1992. In 1992 a fire occurred at an old card manufacturing building resulting in it's demolition at which time the basement was backfilled with brick and block from the building. In 1995 the basement was excavated and the debris brought to a site where the bones were later discovered scattered throughout the debris at various depths. Anthropology studies indicate the bones were fractured at at least two separate times, consistent with the history of moving the debris.


Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name:
Will County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Gene Sullivan or Joe Piper
Agency Phone Number: 815-727-8455
Agency E-Mail: gsullivan(at)willcountyillinois.com
Agency Case Number: UN 97-01

Agency Name: Will County Sheriff
Agency Contact Person: Detective Sgt. Austin
Agency Phone Number: 815-727-8575
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 98-112-104

NCIC Case Number: U026817635
NamUs Case Number: 5206
Former Hot Case Number: 1777

Information Source(s)
NamUs
854UFIL
 
Currently 96 missing person exclusions listed in NamUs...

(from NamUs; a few additional notes to refresh the thread)
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Circumstance Notes
Evidence indicated the skeletal remains were moved two times, consistent with the building demolition followed by the removal of the body a few years later. Remains are in evidence at the Will County Sheriff department. The area of the building was known for being a high crime area. It is also easily accessible from I-80. African 21%, European 56% according to a study completed by Parabon Genomics 2017. Some East and Central Asian ancestry. Stable Isotope Analysis indicates she may have lived in the northern USA, southern Canada area of the Rocky Mountain range.

3-8-17 a new process was initiated to develop facial characteristics through Parabon Genomics. (Anyone know if anything ever came of this?)
 
In May 1997, skeletal fragments were discovered in the rubbish pile from the landmark Rust Craft Greeting Card Company building in Joliet, Illinois. The building, which stood for almost a century prior to its demolition, was a square block long and wide, and three stories tall with a full basement.

The abandoned factory suffered a fire in 1992 which burned for two days, and ultimately resulted in its demolition. Prior to its demolition, the building was known to be frequented by the local homeless population and was known to be a high crime area. Following the demolition, excess debris was removed from the site, while the rest was used to fill the building’s basement.

In 1995, the building’s remnants were excavated and relocated to a second location in Rockdale. It was there that the bones would later be discovered, intermingled with brick, stone, and other building material. Following the discovery of the bones, pathologists determined that they had been disturbed twice postmortem prior to their discovery, indicating that they were present at the original factory location.

Only partial skeletal remains were recovered, yet pathologists were still able to estimate a few things about the unknown woman. She was determined to be between the ages of 15 and 24 years old, and to have stood between 5’ and 5’10 tall. No conclusive determinations were made about the woman’s weight, hair color, or eye color. The woman’s cause of death could also not be determined, although investigators believe that she died sometime after 1986 but prior to the Rust Craft building’s demolition.

For decades, investigators diligently pursued various leads about the woman’s identity. Stable Isotope Analysis conducted by the Smithsonian Conservation Institute indicated that she may have come from the Northern Rockies region of the United States or Canada, ranging from the Dakotas to Washington State.

Specimens of the bones were sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, where forensic anthropologists made the determination about the woman’s age and geographic ancestry. In 2009, the case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP5206.

Despite exhaustive efforts, investigators were unable to develop a facial image or take further steps to establish the woman’s identity. With few leads for investigators to pursue, the case eventually went cold. In 2022, the Will County Coroner’s Office partnered with Othram with the goal of using advanced forensic DNA testing to identify the woman or a close relative. bbm
 
In May 1997, skeletal fragments were discovered in the rubbish pile from the landmark Rust Craft Greeting Card Company building in Joliet, Illinois. The building, which stood for almost a century prior to its demolition, was a square block long and wide, and three stories tall with a full basement.

The abandoned factory suffered a fire in 1992 which burned for two days, and ultimately resulted in its demolition. Prior to its demolition, the building was known to be frequented by the local homeless population and was known to be a high crime area. Following the demolition, excess debris was removed from the site, while the rest was used to fill the building’s basement.

In 1995, the building’s remnants were excavated and relocated to a second location in Rockdale. It was there that the bones would later be discovered, intermingled with brick, stone, and other building material. Following the discovery of the bones, pathologists determined that they had been disturbed twice postmortem prior to their discovery, indicating that they were present at the original factory location.

Only partial skeletal remains were recovered, yet pathologists were still able to estimate a few things about the unknown woman. She was determined to be between the ages of 15 and 24 years old, and to have stood between 5’ and 5’10 tall. No conclusive determinations were made about the woman’s weight, hair color, or eye color. The woman’s cause of death could also not be determined, although investigators believe that she died sometime after 1986 but prior to the Rust Craft building’s demolition.

For decades, investigators diligently pursued various leads about the woman’s identity. Stable Isotope Analysis conducted by the Smithsonian Conservation Institute indicated that she may have come from the Northern Rockies region of the United States or Canada, ranging from the Dakotas to Washington State.

Specimens of the bones were sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, where forensic anthropologists made the determination about the woman’s age and geographic ancestry. In 2009, the case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP5206.

Despite exhaustive efforts, investigators were unable to develop a facial image or take further steps to establish the woman’s identity. With few leads for investigators to pursue, the case eventually went cold. In 2022, the Will County Coroner’s Office partnered with Othram with the goal of using advanced forensic DNA testing to identify the woman or a close relative. bbm

Still crowdfunding but we hope to get some answers in this cold case. If you want to help, you can do so here: Who is Will County Jane Doe (1997)?
 

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