Othram - General Discussion - #3

[Cool Cats]

1980 Murder solved - DNA nabs 2 suspects thanks to Othram

Second Michigan murder suspect arrested in young woman’s deadly abduction

Michigan authorities have arrested two suspects in connection with the 1980 murder of 21-year-old Karen Umphrey after testing DNA collected from the crime scene more than 40 years ago.

news.yahoo.com

Michigan authorities have made a second arrest in connection with the 1980 murder of 21-year-old Karen Umphrey. . .The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office on Feb. 8 announced the arrest of Anthony Harris, 63, in connection with Umphrey's murder – approximately two months after they arrested Douglas Laming, 70, in the same case.

"Working with the Michigan State Police and Othram, a company specializing in forensic genetic genealogy, information was uncovered that previously would have been impossible to find," the sheriff's office said in a December 2023 press release announcing Laming's arrest. "From there, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office detectives spoke to many people that were connected to the victim and suspect over 40 years ago, gathering information and making vital connections."

In 2022, the Michigan State Police (MSP) sent evidence collected from the crime scene to Othram.
In 2023, MSP submitted additional DNA evidence to Othram, and "a second DNA profile belonging to the second unknown suspect was developed using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®."

 

[DeDee]

New case!

As part of our ongoing, multi-year collaboration with SEMO Anthropology, we are working to fund and solve a new case, this time in Lincoln County, Missouri. Please share this case and help us fund it!

Who is Lincoln County Jane Doe (1978)?

Lincoln County Coroner's Office and Southeast Missouri State University Partner with Othram to Identify a 1978 Lincoln County Jane Doe

dnasolves.com

Identified! - MO - Elsberry, Hatfield Landing, WhtFem 29-39, UP5295, cats eye ring, tattoo Dee, Mar'78 - Helen Renee Groomes

The Doe Network Unidentified Female Date of Discovery: March 31, 1978 Location of Discovery: Elsberry, St. Louis County, Missouri Estimated Date of Death: 2 days to 4 months prior State of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction Cause of Death: Unknown Physical Description **...

www.websleuths.com

This would be so great to solve her identity. Othram is knocking it out of the park!

"March of 1978, a hunter spotted a body in the Mississippi River near Elsberry, Missouri. Lincoln County authorities responded to the scene and the individual’s remains were transported <>. It was determined that the remains were that of a white female whose cause of death was drowning. No signs of trauma were observed, and the woman’s manner of death was classified as undetermined.

The decedent was wearing a cat’s eye ring and she had a tattoo of the name “Dee” on her left forearm. Despite their extensive efforts, authorities were unable to identify the woman and her remains were interred in the Troy, Missouri city cemetery. In 2009, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as #UP5295.'

She was exhumed in Nov 2023 to find her remains were not well-preserved.

In 2024, Southeast Missouri State University teamed with Othram <> to determine if advanced DNA testing could assist in finally identifying Lincoln Jane Doe.

Anyone with information that might aid in this investigation is encouraged to contact Lincoln County Coroner Dan Heavin at 636-528-8546, referencing case number A78-93 or NamUs ID #UP5295.

The Lincoln County Coroner's Office and SEMO Anthropology previously partnered with Othram to identify homicide victim Jack Langeneckert, whose remains were identified in 2023, 38 years after their discovery in rural Lincoln County, Missouri. SEMO Anthropology has funded a portion of the costs associated with this case, but we need public support to complete funding for the case.

 

[othram]

Honored Othram could assist Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office in identifying a 2022 John Doe as Barry Michael Rezansoff of Oregon, born March 13, 1967.

Cowlitz County John Doe (July 2022) is now Identified

Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Partners with Othram to Identify a 2022 John Doe

dnasolves.com

 

[iulia]

Honored Othram could assist Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office in identifying a 2022 John Doe as Barry Michael Rezansoff of Oregon, born March 13, 1967.

Cowlitz County John Doe (July 2022) is now Identified

Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Partners with Othram to Identify a 2022 John Doe

dnasolves.com

Here's the WS thread for UP95242:

Identified! - WA - Kalama, UnkSex&Race UP95242, UnkAge, bones on beach of Columbia River, Jul'22 - Barry Michael Rezansoff

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP95242 Unsure, Uncertain Date Body Found: July 23, 2022 Location Found: Kalama, Washington Estimated Age Range-- https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/95242?nav Circumstances of Recovery: Various bones located on the beach of the Columbia River in about...

www.websleuths.com

 

[othram]

Here's the WS thread for UP95242:

Identified! - WA - Kalama, UnkSex&Race UP95242, UnkAge, bones on beach of Columbia River, Jul'22 - Barry Michael Rezansoff

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP95242 Unsure, Uncertain Date Body Found: July 23, 2022 Location Found: Kalama, Washington Estimated Age Range-- https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/95242?nav Circumstances of Recovery: Various bones located on the beach of the Columbia River in about...

www.websleuths.com

Thank you!

 

[othram]

Honored Othram could assist Ventura County Medical Examiner's & Sheriff’s Office in identifying a 2000 Jane Doe as Linda Laverne Orndorff Charlesworth Burka, born September 25, 1947. We are grateful to RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ for funding the casework.

After 24 years, Ventura County Jane Doe (2000) is Identified

Ventura County Medical Examiner's & Sheriff’s Office Team with Othram to Identify 2000 Jane Doe

dnasolves.com

Is a websleuths thread available?

 

[iulia]

Honored Othram could assist Ventura County Medical Examiner's & Sheriff’s Office in identifying a 2000 Jane Doe as Linda Laverne Orndorff Charlesworth Burka, born September 25, 1947. We are grateful to RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ for funding the casework.

After 24 years, Ventura County Jane Doe (2000) is Identified

Ventura County Medical Examiner's & Sheriff’s Office Team with Othram to Identify 2000 Jane Doe

dnasolves.com

Is a websleuths thread available?

Here it is:

CA - CA- Filmore, Wht or HispFem, 30-75, 514UFCA, found at summit of Grimes Canyon Road, expensive dental work, Jan 2000

514UFCA - Unidentified Female Long-sleeved shirt, short-sleeved shirt, and a close up of the pattern of the short-sleeved shirt. These shirts were found with the decedent. Date of Discovery: January 7, 2000 Location of Discovery: Fillmore, Ventura County, California Estimated Date of Death...

www.websleuths.com

 

[othram]

Here it is:

CA - CA- Filmore, Wht or HispFem, 30-75, 514UFCA, found at summit of Grimes Canyon Road, expensive dental work, Jan 2000

514UFCA - Unidentified Female Long-sleeved shirt, short-sleeved shirt, and a close up of the pattern of the short-sleeved shirt. These shirts were found with the decedent. Date of Discovery: January 7, 2000 Location of Discovery: Fillmore, Ventura County, California Estimated Date of Death...

www.websleuths.com

Thank you!

 

[iulia]

Thank you!

You're welcome!

 

[SimsGuy67]

Based on searching on records, she spent most of her life in Virginia, and the last name she used I could find was Linda Burka in 1991, though she divorced in 1990. I have no clue when she disappeared, but I'd say likely in the mid to late 90s.
Here's the divorce and record I found.

Join Ancestry®

Begin your discovery today by exploring the world's largest online family history resource!

www.ancestry.com

Join Ancestry®

Begin your discovery today by exploring the world's largest online family history resource!

www.ancestry.com

 

[othram]

Second solve for today!!

Honored Othram could assist Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office in identifying a 2008 homicide victim as 70-year-old Betty Lou Japel. Grateful to Texas based author and journalist Joe Pappalardo for the funding!

Churchill County Jane Doe (2008) is now Identified

Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify 2008 Homicide Victim

dnasolves.com

 

[Hestia's Fire]

Betty Lou's missing person thread: OR - OR- Betty Lou Japel, 69, from AZ but body may be in OR, 1 Jan 2006

Really grateful to see this one solved. Her motorhome and her partner's body were found here in my town in Oregon in 2006.

 

[othram]

Betty Lou's missing person thread: OR - OR- Betty Lou Japel, 69, from AZ but body may be in OR, 1 Jan 2006

Really grateful to see this one solved. Her motorhome and her partner's body were found here in my town in Oregon in 2006.

We will soon work through all the cases in NamUs. All of these folks deserve identities.

 

[katydid23]

We will soon work through all the cases in NamUs. All of these folks deserve identities.

Your incredible efforts and diligence never cease to amaze me. THANK YOU and all your brilliant co-workers.

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[SimsGuy67]

We will soon work through all the cases in NamUs. All of these folks deserve identities.

Looking for some cases for you to look at. Maybe this one?

1469UFCA

CA - CA - Kern Co., WhtFem UP13916, 13-24, in shallow grave on vineyard, Jun'78

NamUs UP 13916 https://identifyus.org/en/cases/13916 Unidentified White Female Found June 21, 1978 in Kern County, CA Body Condition: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only Probable year of death: to Vital Statistics Estimated age: 13-24 Approximate Height: cannot estimate...

www.websleuths.com

 

[HmmMysterious]

Looking for some cases for you to look at. Maybe this one?

1469UFCA

CA - CA - Kern Co., WhtFem UP13916, 13-24, in shallow grave on vineyard, Jun'78

NamUs UP 13916 https://identifyus.org/en/cases/13916 Unidentified White Female Found June 21, 1978 in Kern County, CA Body Condition: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only Probable year of death: to Vital Statistics Estimated age: 13-24 Approximate Height: cannot estimate...

www.websleuths.com

At the rate Othram is going, I wouldn't be surprised if Arvin Jane Doe is already one of their cases.

 

[SimsGuy67]

At the rate Othram is going, I wouldn't be surprised if Arvin Jane Doe is already one of their cases.

This is very true. I hope this case is one of theirs, along with Rancho Cucamonga Jane Doe.

 

[iulia]

Second solve for today!!

Honored Othram could assist Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office in identifying a 2008 homicide victim as 70-year-old Betty Lou Japel. Grateful to Texas based author and journalist Joe Pappalardo for the funding!

Churchill County Jane Doe (2008) is now Identified

Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify 2008 Homicide Victim

dnasolves.com

Here’s her WS thread:

NV - NV - Churchill Co, Hwy 95 MM 55, UncFem 26-70, UP8110, partial skeletal, orange halter top, May'08

NamUs UP 8110 https://www.identifyus.org/en/cases/8110 Unidentified Body/Remains (Female) Found May 19, 2008 in Churchill County, NV Body Condition: Not recognizable-Partial skeletal parts only Probable year of death: to 2008 Vital Statistics Estimated age: 26-70 Approximate Height: cannot...

www.websleuths.com

 

[othram]

Your incredible efforts and diligence never cease to amaze me. THANK YOU and all your brilliant co-workers.

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Thank you for your support!

 

[othram]

Let's finish the week with ANOTHER solve!

Honored that Othram could assist Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner and Forrest County Sheriff's Office in identifying a Jane Doe, found in Hattiesburg in 2022, as Kimberly Ann Robertson, born January 12, 1974. Thanks to Carla Davis for funding this case!

Forrest County Jane Doe (2022) is now Identified

Mississippi Office of the State Medical Examiner and Forrest County Sheriff's Office Team with Othram to Identify 2022 Jane Doe

dnasolves.com

Identified! - MS-Forrest Co, WhtFem, Adult- Pre 60, UP111129, Skeletal remains near north gate of Camp Shelby, Oct '22 - Kimberly Ann Robertson

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Date Body Found October 19, 2022 Location Found Forrest County, Mississippi Sex Female Race/Ethnicity White/Caucasian Estimated Age Group Adult- Pre 60 Height 5'5"-5'9" (65-69 inches), Estimated Weight Cannot Estimate Location...

www.websleuths.com