DNA Doe Project - General Discussion

[ntt1]

I think Betty is mostly European with Spanish and French admixture, but according to the pie chart she has a tiny percent of Sub Saharan African admixture. I agree with Payroll Nerd that she is probably from second or third generations of Americans. While Vernon co Jane Doe who is European and also has very low numbers on spreadsheet probably could had been an immigrant herself (and as it looks like she is 25% Ashkenazi I would think she is from Central or Eastern Europe).

Furthering this discussion, I think it's probably very likely that St. Tammany JD and Millie Doe were immigrants themselves with likely a very limited number (or no) descendants in North America (pretty sure in the former's case there might have been something in the media stated to this extent). Perhaps Grant County John Doe as well. But it does just take one good match to get a huge break, I guess.

 

[djanga]

Furthering this discussion, I think it's probably very likely that St. Tammany JD and Millie Doe were immigrants themselves with likely a very limited number (or no) descendants in North America (pretty sure in the former's case there might have been something in the media stated to this extent). Perhaps Grant County John Doe as well. But it does just take one good match to get a huge break, I guess.

Looking at St Tammany Parish John Doe phenotype report I would think he is Spanish.

 

[doggybag2355]

Furthering this discussion, I think it's probably very likely that St. Tammany JD and Millie Doe were immigrants themselves with likely a very limited number (or no) descendants in North America (pretty sure in the former's case there might have been something in the media stated to this extent). Perhaps Grant County John Doe as well. But it does just take one good match to get a huge break, I guess.

Is it possible that their relatives are just in a regioun that seldom uses the internet?

 

[djanga]

Is it possible that their relatives are just in a regioun that seldom uses the internet?

I was thinking something similar. James Hamm (Lee co John Doe) and Shirley Cassey (Buena Vista Jane Doe) also had very low matches but they turned to be Americans in a few generations.. Still they had just very distant matches on Gedmath..

 

[doggybag2355]

I was thinking something similar. James Hamm (Lee co John Doe) and Shirley Cassey (Buena Vista Jane Doe) also had very low matches but they turned to be Americans in a few generations.. Still they had just very distant matches on Gedmath..

The thing with Hamm is maybe his FTDNA was much higher.

 

[djanga]

The thing with Hamm is maybe his FTDNA was much higher.

I agree, but he also had a very low number of matches for an American with European ancestry (usually before the changes it was around 1000 matches). But it is just a thought. I think there are equal odds for some of the John and Jane Does with low matches to be either Americans or foreigners.

 

[ntt1]

The thing with Hamm is maybe his FTDNA was much higher.

Can't recall specifically at the moment but I think it was his brother that they found through FTDNA, so this appears to be the case. Millie and St. Tammany seem to have very low matches on both databases, however (and Grant County isn't on FTDNA).

 

[AkitasAreLovely]

Was isotope testing a viable way to determine whether an unidentified Doe was from the US or from a foreign country? I think it wasn't fully set one way or another, but I am not entirely familiar with either side of that argument.

 

[doggybag2355]

Was isotope testing a viable way to determine whether an unidentified Doe was from the US or from a foreign country? I think it wasn't fully set one way or another, but I am not entirely familiar with either side of that argument.

From what I've seen, Isotope testing isn't always very reliable, I could be wrong though.

 

[djanga]

Can't recall specifically at the moment but I think it was his brother that they found through FTDNA, so this appears to be the case. Millie and St. Tammany seem to have very low matches on both databases, however (and Grant County isn't on FTDNA).

His brother was not on Gedmatch or FamilyTree, I remember reading that it was not so straight forward, it took DDP quite some time to identify him, the LE contacted his brother to confirm James’ identity. But I agree with you Millie and St Tammany have very low matches on both sites. I hypothesize Millie can be Australian (as she has an Oceanian admixture) and st Tammany can be Spanish.

 

[MarziPanda]

Looking at St Tammany Parish John Doe phenotype report I would think he is Spanish.

I don't personally think so. Spain isn't highlighted at all. Greece, Italy, Albania and Turkey seem to be the darkest followed by Iraq and Iran, and also parts of central and northern Europe. Greece is the darkest I think (it's hard to tell on such a small map). It's not unusual for Greek people to have ancestry in Italy and the middle east, and there's a lot of crossover between Greece and Albania since they're right next to each other. I would guess that either him or his parents are Greek immigrants.

 

[doggybag2355]

I just had an interesting thought, I wonder if these cases that already have huge numbers in GEDMatch or FTDNA are possibly missing persons with agencies or families actively looking for them already.

 

[djanga]

I just had an interesting thought, I wonder if these cases that already have huge numbers in GEDMatch or FTDNA are possibly missing persons with agencies or families actively looking for them already.

Yes, there are a few examples like this! But also I believe that at first people who are actively missing for their relatives, submitt their DNA to be compared in CODIS against all Jane and John Does in the country. But indeed there are cases when because of different reasons it did not happen.

 

[doggybag2355]

Yes, there are a few examples like this! But also I believe that at first people who are actively missing for their relatives, submitt their DNA to be compared in CODIS against all Jane and John Does in the country. But indeed there are cases when because of different reasons it did not happen.

It could be a similar case to Robin Green where the family had declared her deceased but not missing.

 

[djanga]

Two cases have been added to the spreadsheet today:
Hudson John Doe (with the highest match 173,9 cM). I think this case is similar to Henry Loveless case as all the matches will be his descendants


Reservation Rd Jane Doe (with the highest match 129,3 cM) and crazy but she has 354 matches over 30cM with family tree and 1694 matches over 40cM

 

[MarziPanda]

Two cases have been added to the spreadsheet today:
Hudson John Doe (with the highest match 173,9 cM). I think this case is similar to Henry Loveless case as all the matches will be his descendants


Reservation Rd Jane Doe (with the highest match 129,3 cM) and crazy but she has 354 matches over 30cM with family tree and 1694 matches over 40cM

She has a lot of matches and especially, as you mentioned, a lot of matches with trees. I wonder if she (or her family) could have been Mormon. It's a key part of their culture and religion to be involved with ancestry. So a Mormon would likely have a lot of matches and especially a lot of matches with trees, though not necessarily any high top matches. Or possibly she could have been Jewish, though the other two probably Jewish does on the sheet are very varied in the amount of matches with trees. 23 for Kern Doe 2011 and 307 for Jonesport John.

 

[doggybag2355]

She has a lot of matches and especially, as you mentioned, a lot of matches with trees. I wonder if she (or her family) could have been Mormon. It's a key part of their culture and religion to be involved with ancestry. So a Mormon would likely have a lot of matches and especially a lot of matches with trees, though not necessarily any high top matches. Or possibly she could have been Jewish, though the other two probably Jewish does on the sheet are very varied in the amount of matches with trees. 23 for Kern Doe 2011 and 307 for Jonesport John.

Now that you mention that, I think I remember Anthony Redgrave mentioning that the Pillar Point Doe may have had mormon ancestry.

 

[djanga]

"Brad" Newton Co John Doe 1983 (IN) is now the DDP's newest case!

IN - IN - Lake Village, 'Adam' & 'Brad' 999UMIN & 1384UMIN, Eyler victims, Oct'83

 

[doggybag2355]

"Brad" Newton Co John Doe 1983 (IN) is now the DDP's newest case!

IN - IN - Lake Village, 'Adam' & 'Brad' 999UMIN & 1384UMIN, Eyler victims, Oct'83

I was wondering when they would pick up Brad!

 

[JovanSrna]

I'm glad they picked up Brad too. With this case, all the Doe cases from Newton County, Indiana are being worked on.
I can't help but notice his tattoo resembles the one Michelle Carnall-Burton had.