1. Jane Doe identified as missing mother from Lake Forest
2. Death investigation initiated for Lake Forest Jane Doe, missing mother case.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : A woman whose remains were discovered 41 years ago in Southern California has finally been identified, authorities revealed on Friday. The woman has been identified as Maritza Glean Grimmett, a native of Panama who moved to the U.S. in late 1978 after marrying a U.S. Marine. She was last heard from in July 1979 after informing her sister of her intention to divorce and relocate to California.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department disclosed that children playing in a culvert in April 1983 stumbled upon the remains, leading to the discovery of 70% of the woman’s remains. Following an anthropology examination, it was determined that she was Black or biracial, aged between 18 and 24, had a slight build, stood between 5-foot-3 and 5-foot-6, and possessed a gold tooth. The remains were found in what is now known as the city of Lake Forest, hence she was dubbed Lake Forest Jane Doe.
Over the years, investigators made numerous attempts to identify the woman without success. However, in 2011, a DNA sample was sent to Othram Laboratories, resulting in a genetic profile being generated. Subsequently, cold case investigators collaborated with the FBI’s Regional Genealogy Team to conduct investigative genetic genealogy, ultimately leading to the identification of a direct family line for the woman.
Multiple forensic renderings of the woman were released, and in late 2023, investigators connected with a distant genetic relative of the victim who suggested posting the renderings in a Facebook group dedicated to Jane Does and missing women from the 1970s and 1980s. Just a month after posting about the victim, a woman contacted investigators claiming to be her missing mother, Grimmett.
Grimmett had previously married a U.S. Marine and had a daughter. The family resided in Columbus, Ohio, and Millington, Tennessee from 1978 through mid-1979. At the age of 20, Grimmett informed her family of her intention to divorce and move to California but was never heard from again. Following the submission of DNA samples by her relatives, the victim was positively identified as Maritza Glean Grimmett.
The National Missing and Unidentified Person System funded the DNA extraction and testing that facilitated the identification of Grimmett. The investigation into her killing is still ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to contact Investigator Bob Taft at (714) 647-7045 or coldcase@ocsheriff.gov. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at (855) 847-6227 or www.occrimestoppers.org.
Saleen Martin, a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team, hailing from Norfolk, Virginia, shares this news. For more updates, follow her on Twitter @SaleenMartin or reach out via email at sdmartin@usatoday.com..
– Lake Forest Jane Doe ID’d as missing mom
– Death investigation begins for Lake Forest Jane Doe.
