Decades-Long Mystery Solved: Human Remains Found in Rural Indiana Identified as Connie Lorraine Christensen, Missing Wisconsin Woman Since 1982

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Police Car in a File Photo Linked to Cold Case Murder: Human Remains Identified as Wisconsin Woman Missing for Four Decades

In a shocking breakthrough, authorities have identified human remains discovered in rural Indiana in 1982 as those belonging to Connie Lorraine Christensen, a young woman who vanished over forty years ago. The remains were identified by Lauren Ogden, chief deputy coroner of the Wayne County Coroner’s Office, who confirmed that Christensen hailed from the Madison, Wisconsin-area community of Oregon.

The long-lost remains were found by hunters in December 1982 near Jacksonburg, a remote community located approximately 60 miles east of Indianapolis. Ms. Ogden revealed that Christensen had suffered a fatal gunshot wound, and her homicide case has remained unresolved. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance and subsequent murder have puzzled investigators for decades.

Christensen, who was just 20 years old at the time of her disappearance, was last seen in Nashville, Tennessee, in April 1982. It is believed that she was three to four months pregnant at the time. She had left her 1-year-old daughter with relatives while she was away, but when she failed to return as planned to Wisconsin, her family reported her missing.

Following the discovery of Christensen’s remains, they were stored at the University of Indianapolis’ forensic anthropology department. In an effort to identify the remains, the coroner’s office collaborated with the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to solving cold cases. The Indiana State Police’s forensic laboratory was able to extract DNA from the remains, which was then used for forensic genetic genealogy analysis. This analysis revealed a close match between the DNA from the remains and that of two of Christensen’s relatives.

Remarkably, during the same period in which the identification efforts were underway, Christensen’s family was independently working on building an accurate family tree using ancestry and genealogy tools. Ms. Ogden revealed that several of Christensen’s living relatives had uploaded their DNA to an ancestry website, which expedited the identification process.

“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,” Ms. Ogden explained.

In a poignant moment, Christensen’s now-adult daughter was taken to the location where her mother’s remains were discovered. There, she left flowers as a tribute to her mother’s memory. Authorities also presented her with a gold ring adorned with an opal and two diamonds, which had been found with Christensen’s remains.

Missy Koski, a member of the DNA Doe Project, expressed pride in the collaborative efforts that led to the identification of Connie Christensen after such a prolonged period of uncertainty. “We are delighted to have been part of the team that restored Connie Christensen’s name after all this time,” Koski said in a news release.

The identification of Connie Lorraine Christensen’s remains brings a renewed sense of hope to law enforcement officials and her grieving family. As the investigation into her murder continues, authorities are determined to find justice for Christensen and finally solve this haunting cold case..