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Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Iowa girl DNA identification
2. Missouri body 1978 DNA evidence
Nearly five decades after a hunter discovered a body in the Mississippi River, authorities have identified the victim as a 15-year-old girl from Iowa. Helen Renee Groomes disappeared from Ottumwa, Iowa, and her body was found in Missouri in 1978. DNA evidence and scientific investigation helped determine her identity. The body, initially believed to be a woman in her 30s or 40s, was buried as “Lincoln County Jane Doe.” After exhumation and analysis, new leads emerged, leading to the victim’s brother. The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa has reopened the investigation into this long-standing mystery.
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1. Cold case solved: DNA identifies missing Iowa girl found in Missouri in 1978
2. Iowa teen’s remains identified in Missouri after 40 years through DNA evidence
Forty-six years after a Missouri hunter made a grim discovery in the waters of the mighty Mississippi River, authorities have finally been able to identify the victim as a 15-year-old girl from the state of Iowa.
The Discovery
Back in March 1978, the body of a young girl was found near Elsberry, Missouri, by a hunter from the state. At the time, the victim’s identity remained a mystery, with only a cat’s eye ring on a finger and a barely legible tattoo on her left arm providing any clues. The autopsy conducted suggested that the victim was a woman aged between 30 to 40, and the cause of death was listed as “undetermined.” It was estimated that she had been deceased for approximately four months before being discovered.
The Investigation
Despite the limited information available, authorities in Lincoln County, Missouri, did not give up hope. Fast forward to October of this year, when Coroner Dan Heavin decided to exhume the remains for further analysis. With the help of anthropology students and faculty at Southeast Missouri State University, bone and dental examinations were conducted, alongside DNA analysis. The samples were then sent to a private lab for forensic genome sequencing.
The Breakthrough
It was the cutting-edge technology of Othram Inc. that finally provided the breakthrough in the case. By creating a genealogical profile, new leads were generated, leading investigators to Kevin Groomes, the brother of the victim, Helen Renee Groomes. Kevin confirmed that his sister went missing in 1977, and he was the one who had given her the tattoo on her arm, which read “Del” – a nickname for her boyfriend at the time.
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The Aftermath
With the victim now identified, the story takes a new turn as the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa has reopened an investigation into Helen’s tragic death. The discovery has brought a sense of closure to the family after decades of uncertainty.
A body that was found in 1978 near Elsberry, MO, has been identified as that of Helen Renee Groomes, who went missing when she was 15. (Fox News Digital)
This remarkable breakthrough serves as a reminder of the importance of never giving up on cold cases. Through advancements in forensic technology and the relentless dedication of investigators, even the oldest mysteries can be solved.
