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http://www.police.nashville.org/get_involved/unidentified/
http://www.police.nashville.org/get_involved/unidentified/uhv_03241976.htm
http://www.police.nashville.org/get_involved/unidentified/uhv_03191998.htm
Homicide detective on quest to find identities of six victims
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By MARCELA CREPS
For The Tennessean
When her body was found in July 1993, she was wearing men's underwear and a long-sleeved sweatshirt with a long-sleeved T-shirt underneath. Efforts to identify her failed, and her file five pages long was forgotten.
Five years ago, Metro police Officer David Achord stumbled upon Jane Doe's file.
''I was looking for something else entirely down in archives,'' said Achord, a homicide detective. ''And I just kind of went from there.''
Achord began researching the case hoping to discover the woman's identity.
It marked the beginning of a crusade that led him to encourage Metro police to establish a Web page in 2000 dedicated to identifying corpses of unknown individuals found in Davidson County.
He has yet to uncover the identity of a corpse but remains tireless in his efforts.
The Web site, www.police.nashville.org/get_involved/unidentified/, currently features six unidentified victims.
Each posting contains as much information as possible about the case, including some post-mortem pictures.
Although including pictures can be helpful, it doesn't go without debate. One person wrote a letter asking the chief to remove a picture of skeletal remains because it was offensive. Officials edited the picture so it contained only the clothing.
The postings have generated some leads and inquiries, but so far, no positive identifications have been made, Achord said. Some of the leads have eliminated possible matches between people reported missing and the bodies found.
When a body is found, many different methods are used to identify the body. One of the best ways is DNA testing, which can be used even on skeletal remains.
The FBI can store relatives' DNA test results in its database and compare them with those from unidentified bodies.
However, because of a backlog at the FBI, such testing can take two to three years. Achord said he believes that an increase in funding for the database would expedite DNA testing and solve more cases.
Because the bodies go unclaimed, some are buried under ''Unknown'' markers. Others, such as the Jane Doe from 1993, are picked up by the University of Tennessee's anthropology department, which uses them to study decomposition.
Achord dedicates as much time as he can to his project, working around his duties as a homicide detective.
He said there probably are more unidentified-person files in the archives, but he hasn't time to search for them. Finding the files and trying to solve the cases is a big job, but he remains committed.
''These people are loved by someone,'' he said. ''They're missed by someone
http://www.police.nashville.org/get_involved/unidentified/uhv_03241976.htm
http://www.police.nashville.org/get_involved/unidentified/uhv_03191998.htm
Homicide detective on quest to find identities of six victims
_____Today's Top Stories_____
Iraq atrocity hits close to home
Senate OKs helmet exceptions
House would favor abortion revision
Civil unions strongly opposed by lawmakers
Study OK'd on new convention center plan
Two teens confess to torching mall, officials say
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Driver
PSC Metals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk Manager
RISK MANAGER Christian based long term c...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Commercial Subcontractor
Alexander Metals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Top Jobs
E-Mail This Article
Printer-Friendly (text only)
Subscribe to The Tennessean
By MARCELA CREPS
For The Tennessean
When her body was found in July 1993, she was wearing men's underwear and a long-sleeved sweatshirt with a long-sleeved T-shirt underneath. Efforts to identify her failed, and her file five pages long was forgotten.
Five years ago, Metro police Officer David Achord stumbled upon Jane Doe's file.
''I was looking for something else entirely down in archives,'' said Achord, a homicide detective. ''And I just kind of went from there.''
Achord began researching the case hoping to discover the woman's identity.
It marked the beginning of a crusade that led him to encourage Metro police to establish a Web page in 2000 dedicated to identifying corpses of unknown individuals found in Davidson County.
He has yet to uncover the identity of a corpse but remains tireless in his efforts.
The Web site, www.police.nashville.org/get_involved/unidentified/, currently features six unidentified victims.
Each posting contains as much information as possible about the case, including some post-mortem pictures.
Although including pictures can be helpful, it doesn't go without debate. One person wrote a letter asking the chief to remove a picture of skeletal remains because it was offensive. Officials edited the picture so it contained only the clothing.
The postings have generated some leads and inquiries, but so far, no positive identifications have been made, Achord said. Some of the leads have eliminated possible matches between people reported missing and the bodies found.
When a body is found, many different methods are used to identify the body. One of the best ways is DNA testing, which can be used even on skeletal remains.
The FBI can store relatives' DNA test results in its database and compare them with those from unidentified bodies.
However, because of a backlog at the FBI, such testing can take two to three years. Achord said he believes that an increase in funding for the database would expedite DNA testing and solve more cases.
Because the bodies go unclaimed, some are buried under ''Unknown'' markers. Others, such as the Jane Doe from 1993, are picked up by the University of Tennessee's anthropology department, which uses them to study decomposition.
Achord dedicates as much time as he can to his project, working around his duties as a homicide detective.
He said there probably are more unidentified-person files in the archives, but he hasn't time to search for them. Finding the files and trying to solve the cases is a big job, but he remains committed.
''These people are loved by someone,'' he said. ''They're missed by someone
