DNA Doe Project - General Discussion #2

[djanga]

Her numbers weren't very good on the spreadsheet, so it is very wonderful she was still identified! You finally have your name back, Dawn, rest easy now.

I hope the DDP will give more information on how and when (before or after the Gedmatch changes) she was identified. I think it was mentioned somewhere on this thread that in some cases the DDP does not add very high matches to the spreadsheet. Just a thought: but she could have matched with an immediate relative.

Waiting for the DDP press release.

 

[djanga]

I also wonder if there will be a spreadsheet update this Monday.

 

[djanga]

New interesting details about Dawn identification:

...DNA Doe Project worked for around two years to attempt to find the name for the remains...

...According to Koski, the identification came after the team was able to find a DNA match from a 3rd cousin once removed from one parents side and a half second cousin once removed from the other parents side...

KSP identifies remains found in 2001, non-profit talks about case - News 40 | WNKY Television

KSP identifies remains found in 2001, non-profit talks about case
July 30, 2021 WNKY Staff


BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Kentucky State Police has identified the victim of a death investigation cold case from 2001.

On Oct. 9, 2001 KSP initiated a death investigation following the discovery of decomposed remains of an individual at the 12 mile marker of I-65 in Simpson County.

At the time, the identity of the remains were unknown and no leads were available.

Through years of investigation and the assistance of the DNA Doe Project, KSP has identified the victim as 45-year-old Dawn Clare Plonsky Wilkerson of Nashville, Tennessee.

DNA Doe Project worked for around two years to attempt to find the name for the remains.

Missy Koski, the case manager for Wilkerson’s file with the DNA Doe Project, said the moment they found the name for their Jane Doe, it was an incredible feeling.

“I think what keeps us going is thinking maybe there’s a mom out there missing their son or daughter or there’s a child out there missing, you know, their mom and dad. And when you finally find that it’s just a feeling you can’t describe because you’re so sad to know about the person because now you see your name now you see the reality it’s not just a case or a case number,” said Koski.


According to Koski, the identification came after the team was able to find a DNA match from a 3rd cousin once removed from one parents side and a half second cousin once removed from the other parents side.

The cause of death is still unknown at this time.

“So we’re hopeful that now that we release the name and we’ve been able to have positive identification will be able to start having leads come in hopefully people will recognize Miss Wilkerson and will want to help and come forth with maybe some information that they have we always want to make sure people know that no matter how small you think the information might be that there’s no two small piece of the puzzle,” said Kentucky State Police Trooper Daniel Priddy.

If you want to have DNA submitted to a database to help add DNA links for potential matches, make sure you are using sites that allow result sharing and have your online family trees set to public, otherwise, Koski and teams like hers cannot find your information.

“The problem is that a lot of times people get their DNA tested through ancestry.com or 23andme.com but they don’t know that they need to take their DNA from the sites and download it into the computer and then upload it over to FTDNA or Gedmatch,” said Koski.

The investigation continues and KSP requests anyone with knowledge surrounding the death of Wilkerson to contact the KSP Post 3 at 270-782-2010.

 

[djanga]

She was identified by the DDP in mid-July this year! Incredibly what is the amount of work this team did! I mean I am now in Gedmatch and never I will be able to trace my ancestry with people with whom I share 60 cM

Kentucky Jane Doe 2001 - DNA Doe Project Cases
On July 30, 2021, almost twenty years after her remains were discovered just north of Nashville, Tennessee, the Kentucky State Police and the DNA Doe Project confirmed the identity of the woman known as Kentucky Jane Doe 2001 as Dawn Clare (Plonsky) Wilkerson. Ms. Wilkerson’s unidentified body was found on October 9, 2001, some distance off the shoulder of the northbound lane of Interstate 65 about 12 miles north of the Kentucky-Tennessee state line.

Dawn Clare Plonsky Wilkerson
Photo compliments of: Kentucky State Patrol

In May of 2018, after exhausting all other leads in trying to determine who she was, the Kentucky State Police contacted the DNA Doe Project hoping to resolve the woman’s identity using genetic genealogy. In November of that year, bones were sent to Bode Cellmark for extraction. In February of 2019 the sample was sent to Othram for whole genome sequencing. Due to the poor quality of the DNA, multiple rounds of sequencing were required. In May of 2019, sequencing was complete and the DNA file was sent for bioinformatics. On May 28, 2019, the Doe’s DNA profile was uploaded to GEDmatch. The DNA matches were low, so on June 25, 2019, the agency authorized the file to be uploaded to FamilyTreeDNA. The closest DNA matches were distant cousins, and the team had to trace the family back to Germany in the mid-1800s to find common ancestors. On July 14, 2021, a candidate was presented to the agency

 

[doggybag2355]

She was identified by the DDP in mid-July this year! Incredibly what is the amount of work this team did! I mean I am now in Gedmatch and never I will be able to trace my ancestry with people with whom I share 60 cM

Kentucky Jane Doe 2001 - DNA Doe Project Cases
On July 30, 2021, almost twenty years after her remains were discovered just north of Nashville, Tennessee, the Kentucky State Police and the DNA Doe Project confirmed the identity of the woman known as Kentucky Jane Doe 2001 as Dawn Clare (Plonsky) Wilkerson. Ms. Wilkerson’s unidentified body was found on October 9, 2001, some distance off the shoulder of the northbound lane of Interstate 65 about 12 miles north of the Kentucky-Tennessee state line.

Dawn Clare Plonsky Wilkerson
Photo compliments of: Kentucky State Patrol

In May of 2018, after exhausting all other leads in trying to determine who she was, the Kentucky State Police contacted the DNA Doe Project hoping to resolve the woman’s identity using genetic genealogy. In November of that year, bones were sent to Bode Cellmark for extraction. In February of 2019 the sample was sent to Othram for whole genome sequencing. Due to the poor quality of the DNA, multiple rounds of sequencing were required. In May of 2019, sequencing was complete and the DNA file was sent for bioinformatics. On May 28, 2019, the Doe’s DNA profile was uploaded to GEDmatch. The DNA matches were low, so on June 25, 2019, the agency authorized the file to be uploaded to FamilyTreeDNA. The closest DNA matches were distant cousins, and the team had to trace the family back to Germany in the mid-1800s to find common ancestors. On July 14, 2021, a candidate was presented to the agency

Sounds like they either exhausted all leads regarding family ties or had a lucky break like with Ginger Bibb

 

[doggybag2355]

Has anyone else been having issues with NamUs? I haven't been able to access any cases for like a week.

 

[djanga]

Has anyone else been having issues with NamUs? I haven't been able to access any cases for like a week.

It works perfectly for me, no problems to check any of the cases.

The Spreadsheet update will be tomorrow.

Also I think the statement under pending cases has been slightly changed, now it says, I think it means that various cases can be in Extraction phase but they will not be published till the Extraction proves to be successful :

A case is considered pending if we have determined that there is enough DNA of sufficient quality to proceed with sequencing.

 

[doggybag2355]

It works perfectly for me, no problems to check any of the cases.

The Spreadsheet update will be tomorrow.

Also I think the statement under pending cases has been slightly changed, now it says, I think it means that various cases can be in Extraction phase but they will not be published till the Extraction proves to be successful :

A case is considered pending if we have determined that there is enough DNA of sufficient quality to proceed with sequencing.

Which browser do you use?

 

[djanga]

Which browser do you use?

Usually Safari, but I also tried Chrome and it has worked for me.

 

[Suglo]

Has anyone else been having issues with NamUs? I haven't been able to access any cases for like a week.

It works perfectly for me, no problems to check any of the cases.

The Spreadsheet update will be tomorrow.

Also I think the statement under pending cases has been slightly changed, now it says, I think it means that various cases can be in Extraction phase but they will not be published till the Extraction proves to be successful :

A case is considered pending if we have determined that there is enough DNA of sufficient quality to proceed with sequencing.

I read that there are changes coming to NamUs in the following thread/post. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

About NamUs

 

[doggybag2355]

I read that there are changes coming to NamUs in the following thread/post. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

About NamUs

It probably does, I can access dashboards and searches fine, just not actual cases

 

[djanga]

Resources For Law Enforcement | Office of the Attorney General

It looks like the big changes are coming for the cold cases. It seems that genetic genealogy will be accepted as an identification method on a national/federal level. Othram, DDP, Parabon and many others are listed as resource companies!

 

[othram]

Resources For Law Enforcement | Office of the Attorney General

It looks like the big changes are coming for the cold cases. It seems that genetic genealogy will be accepted as an identification method on a national/federal level. Othram, DDP, Parabon and many others are listed as resource companies!

Very exciting what Texas is doing to organize efforts around cold cases in the state.

 

[doggybag2355]

Resources For Law Enforcement | Office of the Attorney General

It looks like the big changes are coming for the cold cases. It seems that genetic genealogy will be accepted as an identification method on a national/federal level. Othram, DDP, Parabon and many others are listed as resource companies!

I sent the person who wrote the newsletter an email about them possibly being a middle man for suggesting them to help solve their cases

 

[doggybag2355]

I sent the person who wrote the newsletter an email about them possibly being a middle man for suggesting them to help solve their cases

As its easier for someone in the field to get their attention rather than a citizen with no background. Hopefully this will open up some more conservative states to genealogy.

 

[djanga]

Ventura co Jane Doe has a new highest match of 257,9 cM!!!

 

[djanga]

I wonder if Gacy victim #5, lake Michigan Jane Doe, Jackson co Doe (MI) and Ramsey co Jane Doe will be added to the spreadsheet

 

[doggybag2355]

I wonder if Gacy victim #5, lake Michigan Jane Doe, Jackson co Doe (MI) and Ramsey co Jane Doe will be added to the spreadsheet

I hope the issues with NamUS are fixed soon so I can see if there are any updates

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

It probably does, I can access dashboards and searches fine, just not actual cases

I had the same issues last week, but it seems like it's back to normal for me now.

 

[doggybag2355]

I had the same issues last week, but it seems like it's back to normal for me now.

I still can't access any on chrome on W10, and I've had friends try who don't do anything with this sort of stuff and they can't either when the click the link.