WA WA - Seattle, WhtFem 30-50, 159UFWA, UP12916, alias 'Mary Anderson', copper IUD, breast surgery scars, Oct'96

[GloSeattle]

I believe isotope testing is more useful in historical and ancient remains, from the times when most people ate food grown and drank water sourced from the place they lived.

In today's global market, your food and drink could be from anywhere. Just ate noodles from Indonesia. Never been anywhere near Indonesia in my life. Drinking mineral water with it. Where did that water come from? Who knows, could be anywhere in the country. Will probably have some chocolate before bed. Chocolate doesn't grow in my country at all. Neither does the coffee I had for breakfast. See the problem?

MOO

Yes, it's used in archaeology as well! We didn't have such a global market in people born from 1952-1960's (the date range this DOE was estimated to be) so, a strontium isotope, stable, and oxygen isotope testing can reveal much and we need anything at this point - we have nothing on where to even begin with her.

 

[GloSeattle]

She wore a dental plate and had a copper IUD. I would think one, if not both, would have a serial number of some sort (?)

Here are two articles written by journalist Carol Smith of the Seattle Post Intelligencer where the ME's at the time and Kathy Taylor were both interviewed as well as police, what was found in the room, what they did, etc.. The cipher in room 214 Who was Mary Anderson and why did she die?
and a very comprehensive article from Todd Matthews, co-founder of the DOE Network, on her with a real deep dive into the entire case.
https://www.wahmee.com/uploads/1/3/0/5/130585672/sam.pdf
This is also a more detailed photo of Mary (pay special attention to the night table where it looks like a pack of cigarettes and lighter as well as bracelets appear? The detail is blurry as the focus was on Mary and not on the table :-( As you can see she looks much thinner in the photo and that is due to the settling of the tissues in death. Those areas that are propped up her wrists to hand and her head look thinner than her actual body size as they're more on a flat surface. I think this will give people a prospective on how she appears and more questions on the nightstand contents.

 

[Blue-moon]

One example of a case where the isotope analysis was wrong is that of Evelyn Colon: Wikipedia article on her murder. I’m not sure what type of isotope testing was done in that case.

 

[summergirl1]

I've read about so many Doe cases I'm not sure of the type of isotope testing in those cases either. I had read of Evelyn's case.

 

[GloSeattle]

One example of a case where the isotope analysis was wrong is that of Evelyn Colon: Wikipedia article on her murder. I’m not sure what type of isotope testing was done in that case.

Yes, it does depend on the type of test and the controls used during the testing. There is not a uniform procedure or what is called "best practices" for the isotope tests: isotope, strontium, and oxygen. So results can vary with improper (inexperienced) handling of the tests. Same in any crime lab, but we have better controls now as time has gone on to assure the accuracy. It's a shame these things don't progress quicker but the science moves so fast it's hard to stay at the same pace. (My personal belief is that those who invent or utilize these things should be the one's to develop a protocol by which to test and handle the tests and handling of samples and results. I think the onus is on them.)

 

[GloSeattle]

Just to add, the she had a dental plate but it was never found. But there’s evidence she had one.

I've been searching this area, Frewsburg NY, and the area code. Apparently there have been only a handful of industries in the area (not done entirely looking at those), and several prefix's, and an indication the area code is relatively new and most of this area before was loaded into Queen's interestingly enough. You might have really hit on something here, well done! Now, only question is: is Mary's dental plate a partial dental plate like this one or a full dental plate? This looks like both top and bottom...? (I think Mary's was only a top). Our KCME office has not divulged to the media/public definitively whether it's a full or partial plate and if there was a bottom partial or not. And with Kathy gone, I'm at a loss as to who to ask. I guess that's my next stop while I wrap up these other loose ends. Bravo again, Holly!

 

[ninetimesfifteen]

Interesting... I was going to attend UCLA Davis to study forensic anthropology in my criminal justice degree and it's my understanding this testing is still done and relied upon. I just read an article, in fact, from the National Museum of Natural History on how it's still used to test skeletal remains. In fact, it stated that you could follow the complete history from birth to death from the bones. What I was referencing in general above was a test called strontium isotope testing which can determine where a person grew up in broad terms from tooth enamel. May I ask where you read this? I'd be interested to research it myself. (I had a baby and couldn't relocate at the time to Davis, so my studies remained in Oregon and just in CJ). Many thanks if you can steer me in the right direction. (I might add all testing is only as accurate as the test, the controls, the sample, and the interpretation of data. Tests are gauges only and none even in the living are 100% accurate. I always thought that's why they call it practicing medicine! LOL)

It might be reliable when looking at historical remains. We consume imported food and water in the modern age, which can skew results.