Accident – death – Obituary News :

Investigators Identify Jane Doe After Four Decades, Reuniting Victim’s Daughter with Precious Items

After more than forty years, investigators have finally solved a baffling Jane Doe case, bringing closure to a grieving family and reuniting the victim’s daughter with cherished belongings found alongside the mysterious remains in rural Indiana.

The skeletal remains were initially discovered by hunters in December 1982 and have recently been identified as belonging to Connie Lorraine Christensen, a 20-year-old woman who went missing from Wisconsin in April of that same year.

Christensen was last seen in Nashville, Tennessee, where she had left her one-year-old daughter with relatives while she was away. However, when she failed to return home, her family reported her missing.

Thanks to the ongoing efforts of the DNA Doe Project, the remains found near Jacksonburg, Indiana, have now been positively identified as Christensen. At the time of discovery, she was wearing high-heeled wooden soled clogs, a blue long-sleeved button-up blouse, grey slacks, long knit socks, and a blue nylon jacket. Additionally, she had a gold ring adorned with an opal and two diamonds.

Initially, authorities suspected foul play in Christensen’s case, but the exact cause of her death remained undetermined. It was estimated that she had been deceased for approximately eight months, and consequently, she was classified as a Jane Doe.

However, recent investigations have revealed that Christensen likely died from a gunshot wound, shedding new light on the circumstances surrounding her tragic demise.

Following the discovery of her remains, they were entrusted to the forensic anthropology department at the University of Indianapolis. It was not until the DNA Doe Project joined forces with the Wayne County Coroner’s Office and investigators that efforts to identify the young woman were reinvigorated.

Simultaneously, Christensen’s relatives were diligently working on constructing a comprehensive family tree using ancestry and genealogy resources.

“Through our search on GEDmatch, we were fortunate enough to locate two relatively close DNA matches, leading us to Connie’s family,” shared Lori Flowers, the team leader of the DNA Doe Project, in a recent press release.

She further emphasized, “Taking a DNA test and sharing the results on GEDmatch is an invaluable contribution from the families of missing individuals, significantly aiding organizations like ours in making these crucial identifications.”

Last Tuesday, Misty LaBean, Connie Christensen’s now-adult daughter, who was left behind all those years ago, was taken to the exact location where her mother’s remains were discovered.

Overwhelmed with emotions, LaBean expressed, “Throughout my life, I have always felt like it was all about me. However, this is one rare occasion where that feeling truly resonates with me.”

As a poignant gesture, Misty LaBean was presented with the ring found on her mother’s remains, which she proudly wore to the site of the discovery.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with Connie’s family, and we are deeply honored to have brought them the long-awaited answers they have been seeking,” Missy Koski, the team leader of the DNA Doe Project, remarked.

She added, “I am immensely proud of our dedicated and highly skilled volunteers who have played a vital role in assisting law enforcement in restoring Connie Christensen’s identity after all these years.”

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