Human Remains Found in Rural Indiana Identified as Missing Wisconsin Woman Connie Lorraine Christensen

RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) — Authorities have confirmed that the human remains discovered in rural Indiana back in 1982 belong to Connie Lorraine Christensen, a Wisconsin woman who went missing over four decades ago. The Wayne County Coroner’s Office has identified Christensen, who was only 20 years old at the time of her disappearance, and her case remains unsolved.

The Long-Awaited Identification

Lauren Ogden, the chief deputy coroner of the Wayne County Coroner’s Office, stated that hunters found the then-unidentified remains in December 1982 near Jacksonburg, a rural community located approximately 60 miles east of Indianapolis. After conducting further investigations, it was determined that Christensen had died from a gunshot wound. Unfortunately, her tragic death had remained a mystery for many years.

A Desperate Search for Answers

Christensen was last seen in Nashville, Tennessee, in April 1982. At the time, she was believed to be three to four months pregnant. While she was away, she had left her 1-year-old daughter in the care of her relatives. However, when Christensen failed to return as planned to her Wisconsin home, her concerned family reported her missing.

Collaborative Efforts for Identification

Following the discovery of the remains, they were stored at the University of Indianapolis’ forensic anthropology department. In hopes of identifying the victim, the Wayne County Coroner’s Office partnered with the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to solving cold cases and identifying unidentified individuals.

With the assistance of the Indiana State Police’s forensic laboratory, DNA was extracted from the remains. Through forensic genetic genealogy, it was determined that the DNA closely matched that of two of Christensen’s relatives. Coincidentally, during the same period, Christensen’s family was working on creating an accurate family tree using ancestry and genealogy tools.

Lauren Ogden expressed her gratitude towards the DNA Doe Project, stating, “Due to the fact that several of Connie’s living relatives had uploaded their DNA to an ancestry website, the genealogists at the DNA Doe Project were able to provide our office with the name of a candidate much more quickly than we expected.”

A Bittersweet Reunion

As part of the identification process, authorities took Christensen’s now-adult daughter to the location where her mother’s remains were found. The emotional visit allowed her to pay her respects and leave flowers at the site. Additionally, the authorities presented her with a gold ring set with an opal and two diamonds, which was discovered with her mother’s remains.

Restoring Connie Christensen’s Name

Missy Koski, a member of the DNA Doe Project, expressed her pride in the collaborative efforts that led to the identification of Connie Christensen. In a news release, she stated, “We are proud to have restored Connie Christensen’s name after all this time.”