onceuponadecember
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I think the thread name needs to be changed to reflect her married name “Karen Sturgal.”
PULASKI COUNTY JANE DOE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED!
Press release from Pulaski County Sheriff's Office this morning:
Pulaski County Jane Doe identified after 40 years, to the day.
Pulaski County Missouri - The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office and the DNA Doe Project announce the identity of a woman whose body was discovered on 25 May 1981 at a low water crossing near Dixon, MO. the victim of an apparent homicide.
After authorities were unable to identify the woman or any details involving her death she was buried in the Waynesville Cemetery in a grave marked “Jane Doe.”
In 2012, Lt. Dottie Taylor, Missouri Highway Patrol, Troop I, entered Jane Doe’s profile in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Detective DJ Renno of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office became interested in the case and requested approval to relook at the case. Approval was given by Sheriff JB King in 2012 to reopen the case. Sheriff Ronald Long and current Sheriff Jimmy Bench continued the investigation throughout the years searching for answers.
In 2015 Detective Renno, and Pulaski County Coroner Mikel Hartness with the concurrence of Sheriff Ron Long obtained a court order for the exhumation of Jane Doe’s remains to obtain DNA for use in identification.
The exhumation was conducted on 25 May 2015 with the help and assistance of numerous individuals and organizations including members of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner Mikel Hartness, Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Hillman, members of Waynesville City Hall, Waynesville Fire Department, Dan Cordry excavation service, Mr. Mark Beary (Anthropologist), members of the Waynesville Memorial Chapel, and police departments within the county.
In June 2015 the remains were transported to the University of North Texas, Center for Human Identification, Fort Worth TX. for DNA and Forensic Anthropology testing.
In January 2016 An Anthropology report was received on the remains.
In March 2016 a report was received that the extraction and development of DNA was successful.
In May 2016 Jane Doe’s remains were sent to the University of South Florida for forensic Imaging and Isotope analysis.
In January 2017 a report identifying the results from Isotope testing was received.
In April 2019 Jane Doe’s remains were submitted to the DNA Doe Project, in Sebastopol CA. The DNA Doe Project is a volunteer organization using Genetic Genealogy to identify relatives through DNA research.
December 2019 The DNA Doe Project provided a possible name of Jane Doe and the Name of a possible relative (candidate).
In January 2020 - Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office located a candidate (possible relative) in Alexandria VA. The candidate informed Detective Renno that he did have a sister that the family had lost contact with in the early 1980’s. The candidate (possible relative) agreed to provide a DNA sample for comparison / confirmation. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the regional managers of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NaMUS) and the Alexandria VA, Detective unit to obtain a DNA sample. The DNA sample was obtained and submitted to NaMUS at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification for the development and comparison of DNA.
In May 2021 - The genetic data obtained from Pulaski County Jane Doe and the candidate were entered into the Unidentified Human remains and relatives of Missing Persons indices of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and association between these samples were noted to be 19.4 million times more likely to be the biological sibling (Pulaski County (Dixon) Jane Doe) and of the candidate (possible relative) as opposed to originate from an unrelated individual.
Bottom Line: We now know the name of Pulaski County (Dixon) Jane Doe is
Karen Kay Knippers.
*********** Press Conference Today *************
May 25th at 1600 with the lead Pulaski County Detective Douglas Renno at Pulaski County Justice Center 403 School Street Waynesville, MO. ************
Ive seen that tree, too. It looks like she had one brother who passed 10 years before her and she also lost her mom already in the 1960s. No info about other siblings.
Her dad lived to an old age but he may have given up searching. What a sad family story.
She had many aunts and uncles, thou, so I guess they IDd her via their descendants. Unless the record referring to a child is hers.
I think that we would eventually know as LE progresses with the investigation.Karen seems to have had a number of family members that outlived her. Was she ever even reported missing?
Where is her husband? Seems he didn’t report her missing! That always seems to lead down a certain path..... moo
Her husband died in 2008.Where is her husband? Seems he didn’t report her missing! That always seems to lead down a certain path..... moo
What was the divorce date?Found a marriage record for her in Florida, and a divorce record in Tennesse. Can't access without paying. Might be interesting to know her divorce date.
Ancestry.com
What was the divorce date?
I found it too! Did they have a daughter together?Her husband died in 2008.
That daughter was from his first marriage and she died in 1962. Karen married Sturgal in 1973I found it too! Did they have a daughter together?
I found where a E.C. Knippers from Nashville, TN filed for Probate on Karen K Knippers in St. Louis County listing a death date of 6/14/1993. Could this be a family member having her declared deceased? 22PR03930685 - KAREN K KNIPPERS DEC
Not a divorce but another marriage for Sturgal in 1982. Appears he was 15 years older than Karen as well, if it's the same person.Found a marriage record for her in Florida, and maybe divorce record in Tennessee. Can't access without paying. Might be interesting to know her divorce date.
Ancestry.com
Sigh....Not a divorce but another marriage for Sturgal in 1982. Appears he was 15 years older than Karen as well, if it's the same person.