Identified! Canada - Saskatoon, WhtFem 498UFSK, early 1900s murder victim, Jun'06 *Alice Burke Spence*

[JovanSrna]

I seriously doubt that they will ever identify her. The closest they will come is maybe a familial line identification via mtdna. They will be able to put a last name to her, probably never a first name. Too much time has passed.

2012 was a lifetime ago.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Phenomenal genealogical work.

Her name was Alice Spence: DNA identifies century-old Saskatoon body of 'woman in the well'

After a decades-long investigation into mysterious historical remains, 'the woman in the well' finally has her name again.

thestarphoenix.com

On Monday morning, 19 years to the day since Alice was buried in an unnamed grave in Woodlawn Cemetery, her great-granddaughter C C was finally able to close this chapter of her family’s history.
“My grandmother Idella, who was Alice’s daughter, never spoke about her family,” said C. “She was orphaned at the age of 17, and like so many who have experienced such loss, she chose not to dwell on the past. For decades, we had no idea of the incredible story that surrounded her mother Alice.
C said she, along with her daughters and granddaughter, are talking to a stonemason about getting a new headstone made for Alice’s grave.

 

[Blurgle]

I have been following this case since I first read of it in 2006. I'm so happy they identified her, but how sad that she died leaving a daughter. I guess that at this late date we can't know for certain that her husband was the perpetrator, but if so...if he'd only waited a few years she would have been free.

Phenomenal genealogical work.

Her name was Alice Spence: DNA identifies century-old Saskatoon body of 'woman in the well'

After a decades-long investigation into mysterious historical remains, 'the woman in the well' finally has her name again.

thestarphoenix.com

On Monday morning, 19 years to the day since Alice was buried in an unnamed grave in Woodlawn Cemetery, her great-granddaughter C C was finally able to close this chapter of her family’s history.
“My grandmother Idella, who was Alice’s daughter, never spoke about her family,” said C. “She was orphaned at the age of 17, and like so many who have experienced such loss, she chose not to dwell on the past. For decades, we had no idea of the incredible story that surrounded her mother Alice.
C said she, along with her daughters and granddaughter, are talking to a stonemason about getting a new headstone made for Alice’s grave.

C C looks remarkably like the clay reconstruction of her great-grandmother.

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

@othram just solved another Saskatchewan case, so here’s to hoping they’re being sneaky again and working on this case, too!

...and still hoping @othram is being sneaky, since you have solved Saskatchewan cases before

HAH!

After 19 Years, Canada's "Woman in the Well" is Identified

Saskatoon and Toronto Police Services Team with Othram to Identify Canada's "Woman in the Well"

dnasolves.com

 

[UncoolNegated]

Glad they IDed her. I thought I had a pretty good guess on who she was, but you can't argue with DNA. To summarize the Saskatoon Police:

In 2006, construction crews in Saskatoon uncovered a well containing the preserved remains of a woman, later identified as Alice Spence, who moved to Sutherland, SK, from Minnesota in 1913. The Saskatoon Police Service, using investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), DNA testing, and historical records, solved the nearly 20-year-old mystery. Alice, last documented alive in 1916, likely died due to foul play before a 1918 fire destroyed her family’s home. Collaborations with experts and agencies, including the Toronto Police Service’s IGG team, led to identifying her descendants. This marks Canada’s oldest case solved with IGG.

 

[Andreee]

I seriously doubt that they will ever identify her. The closest they will come is maybe a familial line identification via mtdna. They will be able to put a last name to her, probably never a first name. Too much time has passed.

now n 2025 with DNA advances, she could very well be id'ed

 

[Andreee]

now n 2025 with DNA advances, she could very well be id'ed

And I see she was id'ed! Alice Spence.

 

[lightofmine99]

Logging back in after a while to say I'm stunned.

 

[Andreee]

Logging back in after a while to say I'm stunned

I know right?! DNA analysis is amazing, and accurate!

 

[Same Old Stella]

Caught the great news today! She has grown great grandchildren and her name back.