– Woman’s body discovered in ditch near Illinois highway
– Unidentified remains of woman found after 47 years.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Authorities in Morris, Illinois have confirmed the identity of the remains found near Seneca as JoAnn “Vickie” Smith, a young Black woman from Ohio. The discovery comes after more than four decades of mystery surrounding the case.
The Identification Process
Previously known as Jane Seneca Doe, Smith’s body was found in a ditch alongside US Highway 6 with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Despite efforts to identify her over the years, it wasn’t until DNA testing and forensic analysis were conducted that her true identity was revealed.
The Grundy County Coroner’s Office spearheaded the renewed investigation in late 2017, leading to the exhumation of Smith’s body in December 2018. The DNA Doe Project, a team of expert genetic genealogists, played a crucial role in constructing her family tree and narrowing down the search for her identity.
The Challenges of Identification
African-American Jane and John Does often pose a greater challenge for identification due to underrepresentation in public databases. Additionally, as an adopted individual, Smith’s existence was unknown to most of her birth family, making it difficult to trace her lineage.
However, after identifying a branch of her family tree with three sisters, one of whom was her birth mother, investigators were able to uncover her original birth certificate from the Cincinnati Health Department Vital Records and adoption records from Hamilton County Probate Court.
A Closure for Vickie Smith
The confirmation of JoAnn “Vickie” Smith’s identity marks a significant milestone in the case that has spanned nearly five decades. DNA Doe Project spokeswoman Pam Lauritzen expressed the team’s honour in finally being able to say her name and bring her one step closer to her home.
With the mystery of Jane Seneca Doe now solved, authorities can focus on bringing closure to Smith’s family and ensuring that justice is served for her untimely death.
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– Woman’s remains found in ditch near Illinois highway
– Woman’s remains identified after 47 years.
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