Human Remains Found in Rural Indiana Identified as Connie Lorraine Christensen, Wisconsin Woman Missing for Over 40 Years

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Newly Identified Human Remains in Indiana Linked to Cold Case from Wisconsin

RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) — After more than four decades, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a Wisconsin woman has finally been solved. Human remains discovered in rural Indiana in 1982 have been positively identified as those of Connie Lorraine Christensen, a 20-year-old woman who went missing in 1982. The Wayne County Coroner’s Office confirmed the identification, bringing closure to a case that had remained unsolved for decades.

Lauren Ogden, the chief deputy coroner of the Wayne County Coroner’s Office, revealed that the remains discovered in December 1982 near Jacksonburg, a rural community about 60 miles east of Indianapolis, belonged to Connie Lorraine Christensen. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound, and her homicide case remains open.

Connie Lorraine Christensen, a resident of Oregon, a community near Madison, Wisconsin, was last seen in Nashville, Tennessee, in April 1982. At the time of her disappearance, she was believed to be three to four months pregnant. 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.

For years, Christensen’s remains were stored at the University of Indianapolis’ forensic anthropology department. In an effort to identify the unidentified remains, the Wayne County Coroner’s Office collaborated with the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to solving cold cases, using forensic genetic genealogy techniques. DNA extracted from the remains was compared to DNA from Christensen’s relatives, leading to a positive match.

Coincidentally, as the identification efforts were underway, Christensen’s family was independently working on creating an accurate family tree using ancestry and genealogy. Several of Connie’s living relatives had uploaded their DNA to an ancestry website, which greatly expedited the identification process.

Lauren Ogden expressed her gratitude for the collaboration between the DNA Doe Project and the coroner’s office, 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.”

Last week, Christensen’s now adult daughter was taken to the location where her mother’s remains were found. She had the opportunity to leave flowers and was also presented with a gold ring set with an opal and two diamonds that was discovered with her mother’s remains.

Missy Koski, a member of the DNA Doe Project, expressed her satisfaction in the successful identification, stating, “We are proud of the partners’ efforts that restored Connie Christensen’s name after all this time.”

The identification of Connie Lorraine Christensen’s remains brings a glimmer of closure to her family after more than four decades of uncertainty. While her homicide case remains unsolved, the discovery and identification of her remains may provide new leads for investigators. The Wayne County Coroner’s Office and the DNA Doe Project continue to work diligently to bring justice to Christensen and her family.

Ben recommends:
In other news, Juan Santiago, a chauffeur in Nashville, has been recognized as the recipient of the prestigious Hitmakers Award. Juan, who has a passion for serving people, has dedicated his career to providing star treatment to all his guests. His commitment to hospitality stems from the influence of his late mother, who played a significant role in his success. Juan believes that everyone, regardless of their celebrity status, deserves VIP treatment in Music City. To learn more about Juan’s inspiring story, visit our website..