Helen Renee Groomes : “Missing Iowa Girl Found in Missouri 1978”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Iowa girl missing 1978 Missouri
2. Cold case Iowa girl 1978 Missouri

A body discovered in the Mississippi River over 40 years ago has been identified as 15-year-old Helen Renee Groomes from Iowa. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office used DNA evidence to confirm the identity of the “Lincoln County Jane Doe” who disappeared in Ottumwa in 1977. Initially believed to be a woman in her 30s or 40s, the victim was found with minimal identifying clues. Through advanced analysis and DNA sequencing, experts were able to determine her true age and generate new leads in the investigation. The family of Helen Groomes finally has closure after decades of uncertainty.

The Discovery of Lincoln County Jane Doe

A body that was discovered in the Mississippi River over forty years ago has finally been identified as a 15-year-old girl from Iowa. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri recently announced that DNA evidence has helped solve the mystery surrounding the “Lincoln County Jane Doe,” revealing her to be Helen Renee Groomes, who went missing from Ottumwa in 1977.

The Tragic Find

The body of Helen Groomes was found in the Mississippi River near Elsberry, Missouri, in March 1978. Initially, a medical examiner estimated the victim to be a woman aged between 30 and 40 years old. The cause of death was determined to be drowning, with no signs of trauma present. The only identifying features on the victim were a cat’s eye ring and a tattoo resembling a name on her left forearm.

A Cold Case Reopened

Despite efforts to identify the victim at the time, her case remained unsolved, and she was laid to rest at a local cemetery under the name “Lincoln County Jane Doe.” In October 2023, her remains were exhumed for further analysis by faculty and students from Southeast Missouri State University. Their findings revealed that the victim was actually younger than initially thought.

Breakthrough in the Investigation

Through meticulous bone and dental analysis, as well as DNA testing conducted by a private lab called Othram Inc., a genealogical profile was constructed. This profile led the genealogy team at Othram to generate new leads in the investigation, ultimately shedding light on the identity of the long-unknown victim.

Closure for the Family

Lincoln County Sheriff Rick Harrell expressed his gratitude to the teams involved in cracking this decades-old case. The collaboration between SEMO, Othram, and the Lincoln County Coroner’s Office proved instrumental in bringing closure to Helen Groomes’ family. Her brother, Kevin Groomes, was finally contacted and able to provide a DNA match, bringing his sister home after decades of uncertainty.

A Reunion Long Awaited

Kevin Groomes shared with KSDK-TV that his sister had disappeared on her birthday in Ottumwa in 1977. The joy of finally finding Helen and being able to lay her to rest in a place of remembrance was overwhelming for the Groomes family. The resolution of this cold case has brought solace and closure to those who have mourned the loss of Helen for so many years.

José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.