Bodies of Evidence:Bodies of Evidence:Mystery SolvedMystery Solved

ByByDana Austin, Ph.D., DABFADana Austin, Ph.D., DABFA

Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s OfficeTarrant County Medical Examiner’s OfficeFort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas

Unidentified Female SkeletonUnidentified Female Skeleton19931993

Bones were recovered in May 1993Bones were recovered in May 1993 Body was evaluated at the Johnson Co. Body was evaluated at the Johnson Co.

Medical Examiner and biological profile Medical Examiner and biological profile data were submitted to NCICdata were submitted to NCIC

Unidentified Female SkeletonUnidentified Female Skeleton20032003

Cold case squad re-looked at case in Cold case squad re-looked at case in 2003.2003.

Brought bone sample to Texas Missing Brought bone sample to Texas Missing Person’s DNA databasePerson’s DNA database

Skeleton brought to Tarrant County Skeleton brought to Tarrant County Anthropologist for analysis and facial Anthropologist for analysis and facial reconstructionreconstruction

Findings: Re-analysis of SkeletonFindings: Re-analysis of Skeleton

White FemaleWhite Female Aged 16-23Aged 16-23 5’4” – 5’9”5’4” – 5’9” Postmortem interval greater than 5 years Postmortem interval greater than 5 years

(prior to discovery in 1993)(prior to discovery in 1993) DOB probable range = 1952-1972DOB probable range = 1952-1972 Date missing estimate = 1975-1988Date missing estimate = 1975-1988

NCIC Data EntryNCIC Data Entry

Entry modified with new biological profile Entry modified with new biological profile and re-run against possible missing and re-run against possible missing femalesfemales

Assistance from the Texas Missing Assistance from the Texas Missing Persons ClearinghousePersons Clearinghouse

Housed under the Texas DPS Criminal Law Enforcement Division, Special Crimes Service

MPCH was established by the 69th Legislature, regular session in 1985.

1986 MPCH became operational

Central repository for information pertaining to missing persons and unidentified living/deceased.

Assists law enforcement, families, non-profit organizations, and the general public in handling matters involving missing and unidentified persons.

Publication/distribution of photos

Training for law enforcement

Analytical support (including NCIC entry)

Jane Doe 1993 PossibilitiesJane Doe 1993 Possibilities

Approximately 79 possible matches were Approximately 79 possible matches were receivedreceived

31 eliminated from further consideration 31 eliminated from further consideration due to age discrepancy, postmortem due to age discrepancy, postmortem interval deviation, and/or inconsistent interval deviation, and/or inconsistent dentaldental

48 tentative matches48 tentative matches

Johnson Co. Sheriff’s OfficeJohnson Co. Sheriff’s Office

Mark Thompson tracked down the Mark Thompson tracked down the originating departments on these MPoriginating departments on these MP

Received dental records orReceived dental records or Encouraged family to submit reference Encouraged family to submit reference

samples to Texas Missing Persons DNA samples to Texas Missing Persons DNA databasedatabase

August 2003August 2003

Rica Garcis from North Richland Hills P.D. Rica Garcis from North Richland Hills P.D. revaluates a file on a missing femalerevaluates a file on a missing female

She determines that female is still missingShe determines that female is still missing With help from the Texas Missing Persons With help from the Texas Missing Persons

Clearinghouse she tracks down the Clearinghouse she tracks down the mother and assists in getting a DNA mother and assists in getting a DNA sample to the Texas Missing Person’s sample to the Texas Missing Person’s DNA databaseDNA database

Texas Missing Persons DNA Texas Missing Persons DNA DatabaseDatabase

Housed at UNTHSC in Fort WorthHoused at UNTHSC in Fort Worth Funded by State Legislation in 2001Funded by State Legislation in 2001 Extractions begun March 2003Extractions begun March 2003 Accepts cases of unidentified remains and Accepts cases of unidentified remains and

relatives of missing personsrelatives of missing persons First lab to use CODISmp softwareFirst lab to use CODISmp software

Texas Missing Person’s DNA Texas Missing Person’s DNA DatabaseDatabase

Current Profiles for Unidentified/MissingCurrent Profiles for Unidentified/Missing 17 Unidentified remains17 Unidentified remains 260 Relatives of Missing Persons260 Relatives of Missing Persons

7 identifications to date

1st Id in August 2003

National DNA Index SystemNational DNA Index SystemNDISNDIS

Current Profiles for Unidentified/MissingCurrent Profiles for Unidentified/Missing 158 Missing Persons158 Missing Persons 415 Relatives of Missing Persons415 Relatives of Missing Persons 203 Unidentified Remains203 Unidentified Remains

June 2004 June 2004 A break in the caseA break in the case

The Texas Missing Persons DNA The Texas Missing Persons DNA database identifies our skeletal remains database identifies our skeletal remains

The mother’s DNA was found to match the The mother’s DNA was found to match the DNA extracted from a bone—probability of DNA extracted from a bone—probability of maternity = 95.21%maternity = 95.21%

This was the first This was the first COLD HITCOLD HIT for the for the databasedatabase

Lessons in IdentificationLessons in Identification

Why hadn’t we come up with her name Why hadn’t we come up with her name earlier?earlier?

This female was eliminated because her This female was eliminated because her dental didn’t match!dental didn’t match!

Dental information was incorrectly coded Dental information was incorrectly coded in the original NCIC entryin the original NCIC entry

This female would not have been identified This female would not have been identified if not for DNA databaseif not for DNA database

Case SummaryCase Summary

Female disappeared in 1982 when she Female disappeared in 1982 when she was 19 years 11 mos oldwas 19 years 11 mos old

Her partial skeletal remains were Her partial skeletal remains were discovered in 1993discovered in 1993

Re-analysis of her skeleton showed Re-analysis of her skeleton showed evidence of homicide and a longer evidence of homicide and a longer postmortem intervalpostmortem interval

Case SummaryCase Summary

Her skeletal remains were identified Her skeletal remains were identified through a DNA database thanks to the through a DNA database thanks to the hard work of two police agencieshard work of two police agencies

The homicide investigation is in progressThe homicide investigation is in progress

TX Missing Persons Clearinghouse TX Missing Persons Clearinghouse Toll-Free Help-line Toll-Free Help-line

800-346-3243800-346-3243TX Missing Persons DNA DatabaseTX Missing Persons DNA Database

Steven Gammon 817-735-0188Steven Gammon 817-735-0188National MP Database: Dr. J.E.B. Stewart, FBI

703-632-4589

Thanks to John Planz, UNTHSCThanks to John Planz, UNTHSC

AndAnd

Patricia Blake, TMPCHPatricia Blake, TMPCH