DNA Doe Project - General Discussion #3

[djanga]

"Naming the Dead," the collaboration between the DDP and National Geographic, will be streamed this week—so exciting! I was going through the episodes, and I’m especially interested in Episode 4, which features the Nebraskan case: Lincoln County Rail Car John Doe (1961). Wow, I didn’t know he had been identified—he’s still listed as under genealogical research. It sounds fascinating!

Also, the case of David Brown is incredibly compelling. I feel so bad for this young man—such a horrible story, his story will be featured in Episode 6.

Naming the Dead | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

Season 1, Episode 4 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

 

[djanga]

A short episode about Naming the Dead and Smith County Jane Doe, Texas identification. This story will be featured in the 2nd episode “A box of bones”

 

[Caring1]

Del Rey Jane Doe 1984 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

 

[Caring1]

July 30, 2025

Nilsson's family reported her missing about two weeks before the remains were found in the dumpster. The 14-year-old girl had apparently left home to go swimming and never returned.
The DNA Doe Project said the investigation into Nilsson's death is ongoing.

14-year-old girl found dead in Phoenix dumpster identified 41 years later

A DNA profile helped investigators to identify a teen girl found dead during the summer of 1984 in Phoenix.

www.12news.com

 

[djanga]

Investigators also learned that someone else had used Nilsson’s identity to get married in 1987.

No further details were immediately available regarding the misuse of Nilsson’s identity, and the circumstances around her murder have yet to be discovered.

Anyone with information about the unsolved murder is asked to contact the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.

Human remains found in Phoenix dumpster in 1984 identified as missing teen girl

A young woman whose body was found in a Phoenix dumpster more than four decades ago has been identified.

www.abc15.com

 

[summergirl1]

This article mentions the Christy Fornhoff case, but after looking up the facts of her case, I don't think her killer (who has since been executed) had anything to do with Renee's case.

July 30, 2025

Nilsson's family reported her missing about two weeks before the remains were found in the dumpster. The 14-year-old girl had apparently left home to go swimming and never returned.
The DNA Doe Project said the investigation into Nilsson's death is ongoing.

14-year-old girl found dead in Phoenix dumpster identified 41 years later

A DNA profile helped investigators to identify a teen girl found dead during the summer of 1984 in Phoenix.

www.12news.com

 

[The4TierBridge]

Ignore: wrong thread

 

[djanga]

New article about an upcoming National Geographic partnered series:

Illinois and Indiana cold cases featured in chilling ‘Naming the Dead’ series | FOX 32 Chicago

A powerful new docuseries premiering August 2 on National Geographic takes viewers into the emotional, high-stakes world of forensic genealogy and cold case investigations.

www.fox32chicago.com

The first episode is about an identification of Larry Eyler‘s victim, previously referred as Adam

 

[djanga]

Two cases were moved to Past Cases: Ralls County Skull Doe 1970 and Lost Bridge Trail John Doe 2022

Past Cases | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

 

[djanga]

New Hampshire Cranium 1987 has moved to Active research. It is one of the weird cases, where they don’t know how and where the cranium was found:


In 1987, the cranium of a likely young adult male of European ancestry was examined by an anthropologist who noted that the remains had probably been outside for 2-10 years. The remains were recovered the year before, but records of the exact location have been lost. In 2023, a dentist who radiographed the cranium confirmed the teeth are those of a younger person (though over 18 years old).

New Hampshire Cranium 1987 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

 

[MadMcGoo]

This is a wonderful series, IMO! It gives a good look at what goes on behind the scenes, and the impact that work has on Does’ families.

Naming the Dead

There are 50,000 bodies lying unnamed and unmourned across America with no way of identifying them, until now. This powerful new series follows the DNA Doe Project - a leading organization in genetic investigation and identification - as they partner with law enforcement agencies to solve the...

www.hulu.com

 

[Tired Professor]

New Hampshire Cranium 1987 has moved to Active research. It is one of the weird cases, where they don’t know how and where the cranium was found:


In 1987, the cranium of a likely young adult male of European ancestry was examined by an anthropologist who noted that the remains had probably been outside for 2-10 years. The remains were recovered the year before, but records of the exact location have been lost. In 2023, a dentist who radiographed the cranium confirmed the teeth are those of a younger person (though over 18 years old).

New Hampshire Cranium 1987 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

Given the speculated age of the bones, the location and time period, I was starting to wonder if perhaps they belonged to the mother of Terry Rasmussen’s daughter, but since they are thought to be male, it’s not likely her.

 

[djanga]

Given the speculated age of the bones, the location and time period, I was starting to wonder if perhaps they belonged to the mother of Terry Rasmussen’s daughter, but since they are thought to be male, it’s not likely her.

Interesting, could there be more victims?

 

[ntt1]

There's no way to watch the NatGeo series outside of the US yet, right?

 

[djanga]

A few more cases moved to Research phase, among them Western Reserve Rd John Doe 1982, Ohio, a young man who was a victim of hit-and-run.

Western Reserve Rd John Doe 1982 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

And Ashland John Doe 1977, Virginia.

Ashland John Doe 1977 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

 

[djanga]

Palisades Interstate Park Cliff John Doe 2006 has also moved to Past Cases, it means that a different IGG agency is working on his family tree, in his case we know that it is Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center.

 

[doggybag2355]

Two new cases, one from Louisiana: John Orleans Doe 1979 | DNA Doe Project

And one from Oregon: Robb’s Hill John Doe 1990 | DNA Doe Project

 

[djanga]

According to her thread and an article provided by Yulia, St. Croix County Jane Doe was identified as 91-y.o. Alice Catharina Peterson. She died in 2001 from natural causes in the hospital and was thought to have been cremated; however, her skull was discovered in a plastic bag in 2002.

Identified! Thread 'WI - Houlton, WhtFem 35-60, 406UFWI, wide-set eyes, edentulous, Oct'02 Alyce Peterson'

Jun 2, 2009

Mod Note: The first six posts of this thread deal with two separate UID's. I have duplicated the thread, and this thread will cover Case 406UFWI. Any further discussion of 874UFWI should be covered on the following thread:

Submitted WI - Black River Falls, Fem (874UFWI), 24-40, Mushroom Tattoo on Left Hand, Oct'90 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community


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There was a headless body found in Black River Falls, WI 10-10-1990. She was a white female, estimated age to be anywhere from 24-40, she was 5'2" - 5'4", and had a stocky build. Her date of death would...

• not_my_kids
• Replies: 99
• Forum: Identified!

St Croix County Jane Doe 2002 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

 

[djanga]

https://www.facebook.com/100068121797204/posts/1065514195729297

 

[djanga]

Asking me everything session with the DDP today! Not sure if you can ask about any case or just the cases featured in Naming the Dead!

https://www.facebook.com/100068121797204/posts/1066116862335697