DNA Identifies 15-Year-Old Victim Found in Mississippi River

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Mississippi River cold case
2. DNA identification 1978 case

In a breakthrough case, a body found in the Mississippi River 46 years ago has been identified as 15-year-old Helen Renee Groomes from Iowa. DNA evidence and scientific investigation confirmed her identity after she disappeared from Ottumwa, Iowa. Initially classified as a woman aged 30 to 40, the body was found with only a cat’s eye ring and a tattoo for identification. Thanks to advancements in forensic technology, the body was identified as Helen, leading to her brother Kevin Groomes. The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa has launched a new investigation into her death, bringing closure to a long-standing mystery.

The Discovery of Helen Renee Groomes

Almost five decades after a hunter stumbled upon a body in the Mississippi River, authorities in Lincoln County, Missouri, have finally identified the victim as 15-year-old Helen Renee Groomes from Ottumwa, Iowa. The discovery was made near Elsberry, Missouri, in March 1978, but it wasn’t until recently that DNA evidence and scientific investigation helped solve the mystery.

A Mysterious Case

When Helen’s body was first found, an autopsy suggested that the victim was a woman aged between 30 to 40. The only clues investigators had were a cat’s eye ring on a finger and a barely legible tattoo on her left arm. The cause of death was labeled as “undetermined,” and it was estimated that she had been deceased for approximately four months before being discovered.

A Nameless Grave

With little information to go on, the remains were laid to rest in the Troy, Missouri, City Cemetery under the name “Lincoln County Jane Doe.” For years, the identity of the young girl remained a mystery, leaving her family and loved ones without closure.

The Breakthrough

Fast forward to October, when Coroner Dan Heavin made the decision to exhume the body and seek the help of anthropology experts at Southeast Missouri State University. Through advanced bone and dental analysis, along with DNA testing conducted by Othram Inc., a genealogical profile was created that eventually led to the breakthrough in the case.

A Brother’s Revelation

Thanks to the new evidence, Kevin Groomes, Helen’s brother, was located. In an emotional interview with KSDK-TV, Kevin revealed that his sister had gone missing in 1977. He also disclosed that he was the one who had tattooed her arm with the nickname “Del,” in reference to her boyfriend at the time.

A Renewed Investigation

Following the identification of Helen Renee Groomes, the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa has reopened the investigation into her death. The family, after years of uncertainty, can now begin the process of seeking justice and closure for their beloved Helen.

Conclusion

The resolution of this long-standing mystery serves as a reminder of the importance of never giving up on seeking the truth. Through diligence, perseverance, and the advancement of technology, cases once thought unsolvable can finally find resolution, bringing peace to families and communities affected by tragedy.