Identified! AZ - Apache Junction, HispFem UP6349, 16-18, desert near Hwy60, Phnx Trnsit Sys token, ring, Aug'92 - Melody Harrison

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

An update and a call for action from DNA Doe Project's Facebook page:

"Hello friends. As many of you already know, the DNA Doe Project is a nonprofit organization that applies genetic genealogy to help identify unidentified deceased persons by analyzing familial matches at FTDNA.com and the public DNA database, GEDmatch.

Because many of our Jane and John Does are from populations which are underrepresented in genetic genealogy, we are reaching out to genealogists and groups to encourage participation with these two essential platforms, so that we might have a better chance of returning names to these often forgotten victims.

For example, one of our cases, "Apache Junction Jane Doe," appears to be African American, Hispanic and Native American, but unfortunately, she currently has few usable DNA matches. However, we are hoping that participation from people who share her same ethnicities could help to solve her case, bring her home and provide additional research value to her ethnic communities. You can follow her opted-in match progress (and some of our other cases) here:
Doe Upload.xlsx

We are asking those who have completed a DNA kit through Ancestry, 23andMe, MyHeritage or other DNA services, to consider transferring to FTDNA.com and gedmatch.com to help our Does.

Remember to select "Opt-In" on GEDmatch for law enforcement matching so that the DNA kit is viewable by our researchers.
Both platforms are FREE to transfer and provide powerful tools and valuable resources for people hoping to unlock the mysteries of their family trees.

Remember to take a moment to read through the ToS to understand the various uses of your data on GEDmatch and FTDNA. We want you to be informed when you make the choice for yourselves. Keep in mind that ToS can always change on any site, and there could be uses that are not currently foreseen. Ultimately we each are responsible for our own privacy and should make that decision before deciding to upload anything to the internet.

Also, for those who have friends or family members who have completed a DNA kit, we hope you will consider sharing our message and advocating for others to educate themselves on the advantages (as well as the risks) of transferring and opting-in to help the DNA Doe Project.

Those interested may read learn about Apache Junction Jane Doe here:
Apache Junction Jane Doe - DNA Doe Project Cases

To get started, please visit www.GEDmatch.com or www.FTDNA.comtoday!

Thank you for your time and consideration!

#DNADoeProject
#OptIn
#GEDmatchOptIn
#ApacheJunctionJaneDoe "

 

[Jjmadilla]

Old missing persons case from my hometown. When I saw the sketch of Apache junction Jane doe I thought there was quite the resemblance. Roberta Ferguson missing since 1988

 

[Jjmadilla]

The Doe Network: Case File 380DFBC

 

[Al Ka]

Arizona Mystery: 1992 Jane Doe teen still waiting to be identified

This month marks 27 years since the body of an unidentified girl was found dead in Apache Junction, Arizona.

The Apache Junction Police Department believes that the girl was between 16 and 18 years old when she died, they also think she had only been deceased between four to 10 weeks prior to being found. That estimation means that Jane Doe would have died the summer of 1992.
---
The Apache Junction Police Department is not giving up hope. Billboards went up in two locations in Phoenix this week and they are working with genealogist DNA Doe project to try and gain answers.

“Forensic Genealogy has proven to be a great investigative tool for unidentified remains and hopefully it will be able to identify AJPD’s 1992 Jane Doe.” Said Officer Stephanie Bourgeois with the Apache Junction Police Department “We have been working with DNA Doe project for almost a year and we want to be able to identify Jane Doe and give her family answers.”

(On August 6, 1992, the body of an unidentified female was located in a desert area near the northwest corner of Idaho and Baseline Roads, south of US Highway 60 in Apache Junction, Arizona.)

Arizona Mystery: 1992 Jane Doe teen still waiting to be identified

 

[Liv27]

Arizona Mystery: 1992 Jane Doe teen still waiting to be identified

This month marks 27 years since the body of an unidentified girl was found dead in Apache Junction, Arizona.

The Apache Junction Police Department believes that the girl was between 16 and 18 years old when she died, they also think she had only been deceased between four to 10 weeks prior to being found. That estimation means that Jane Doe would have died the summer of 1992.
---
The Apache Junction Police Department is not giving up hope. Billboards went up in two locations in Phoenix this week and they are working with genealogist DNA Doe project to try and gain answers.

“Forensic Genealogy has proven to be a great investigative tool for unidentified remains and hopefully it will be able to identify AJPD’s 1992 Jane Doe.” Said Officer Stephanie Bourgeois with the Apache Junction Police Department “We have been working with DNA Doe project for almost a year and we want to be able to identify Jane Doe and give her family answers.”

(On August 6, 1992, the body of an unidentified female was located in a desert area near the northwest corner of Idaho and Baseline Roads, south of US Highway 60 in Apache Junction, Arizona.)

Arizona Mystery: 1992 Jane Doe teen still waiting to be identified

That’s really good that they’re looking hard to identify this poor girl.

The DDP is still having issues identifying African American/Asian/Hispanic/Native American Does because they are so underrepresented in GEDMatch. They have a lot of Hispanic Does they are working on and the only one who has been identified is Lyle Stevik, whom I believe was Native American/Hispanic. So, if you know anyone who has done a DNA kit and is Native American/African American, like AJD, please encourage them to upload their DNA to GEDMatch and OPT IN. I recently did a DNA kit for myself and uploaded to GEDMatch. All you have to do is go into your settings

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Jane Doe's DNA was submitted to GED-match ten months ago, the national public DNA database as a part of the DNA Doe Project. Apache Junction police are still hopeful and are waiting for a DNA hit.

In the meantime, detectives and Apache Junction Police Cold Case Investigator Larry Kincaid are also using old fashioned police work.

Re-conducting interviews, following up on leads, and just last week, billboards asking "Do you recognize me?" along with Jane Doe's sketch, going up around Phoenix.

"I know it's been 27 years, but if it's out there again for a while and someone just happens to drive by and look at that picture, it might ring a bell with them, and certainly that's the most important thing right there is trying to find out who she was," said Kincaid.

Apache Junction Police ask if you know anything that can help investigators or recognize Jane Doe, to call them at 480-982-8260 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
Apache Junction police hope to solve 27-year-old cold case

 

[imstilla.grandma]

You Could Solve Mystery of Apache Junction Jane Doe

 

[Melt71]

That’s really good that they’re looking hard to identify this poor girl.

The DDP is still having issues identifying African American/Asian/Hispanic/Native American Does because they are so underrepresented in GEDMatch.

It makes me sad to look at DDP's Google sheet and see that she has ZERO matches even at the lowest measure, whereas others have hundreds. And of course they all deserve to have their names back, but it just seems so unfair to this little girl (sorry my own daughter is 21yo so the estimated age range for this UID just feels so, so young).

I feel that we need the attention of a US podcast - something meaty and wide-ranging. Maybe something like the Finding Cleo writers in Canada who had to develop connection into (Canadian) indigenous communities in order to tell Cleo's story.

 

[Melt71]

Not exactly a racing start, but Apache Junction JD has picked up one low-level match on the Googledrive this week. It's a speck on the horizon where previously nothing was listed, but better than the previous run of zeros.

 

[Liv27]

Just going to post this for people who have not seen the Google sheet:

Apache Junction Jane Doe does not have any high-level matches. Her highest match is 26.7 cm, which is not very high at all. Native American DNA is underrepresented in the system so it is really a waiting game.

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

Update and call for action from the DDP:

"DNA Doe Project Case Update: Apache Junction Jane Doe - Pinal County, Arizona (1992)

Calling all DNA testers with connections to Virginia, Mexico, and the Southwest United States (AZ, CA, TX, NM)!

Apache Junction Jane Doe's DNA profile was uploaded to GEDmatch in November 2018, but due to a low number of DNA matches, her case has not yet been solved. AJJD is thought to be of mixed race, with possibly one parent who is Hispanic with Mexican ancestry, and the other who is African American with roots in Virginia.

We are calling for your assistance today to help solve her case - please share this post and upload and opt-in at GEDmatch and FTDNA!

-From common ancestors we have found places of interest to include the state of Virginia, especially Pittyslvania and Halifax Counties; Mexico, especially Nuevo Leon, Sonora, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Jalisco, as well as the Baja Peninsula; Southern California; Pima County, Arizona and Bexar County, Texas.

-From common ancestors we have found surnames of interest to include Chandler, Dixon, Graves, Lovelace and Patrick (Virginia); Alvarez, Aros, Chavez, Garcia, Garza, Guerra, Haro, Molina, Parra, Solis, Soto, and Villegas (Mexico and SW United States).

As of January 17, 2020, the DNA Doe Project can see only 19% of her matches available in the DNA database. We are unable to see 81% of her matches (81% of her matches have not “Opted-In”).

Links to More Information:
https://dnadoeproject.org/case/apache-junction-jane-doe/
https://www.facebook.com/DNADoeProject/posts/2231788147079958
https://www.facebook.com/DNADoeProject/posts/2266765830248856
https://www.facebook.com/DNADoeProject/posts/2368397143419057

For more information on the DNA Doe Project and our other cases, visit our website: http://dnadoeproject.org/

For more information and help on uploading to GEDmatch:
https://help.forensicgenealogytraining.org/

#DNADoeProject
#GEDmatchOptIN
#OptIN
#ApacheJunctionJaneDoe
#PinalCounty
#ApacheJunctionArizona
#LikeAndShare "
#Ancestry
#Arizona

 

[carbuff]

I posted it to my Twitter.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP6349
Female, Hispanic / Latino



Estimated Age: Adult - Pre 20; 16-18
Estimated PMI: Weeks
Estimated Height: 5' 1" (61 inches)
Weight: Cannot Estimate
Hair Color: Brown
Head Hair Description: Head hair recovered from the scalp is microscopically similar to head hairs from known Admixed AmerIndians (for example, SW Hispanics).

Clothing
1. One pair of blue denim cut-off short pants. The pants are in place with the waist buttoned and zipper buttoned. The pant cuff margins are irregular and frayed with folding. Multiple horizontal slit-like openings are over the anterior right front pant leg. In the left front pants pocket is a corroded quarter, a penny, and a yellow metal token. On one side of the token is "Valid for one student fare" and on the opposite side is "Phoenix Transit System" with a central large "P". The short pants are Levi brand. No size can be determined. Within the right front pants pocket is a round piece of paper the size of a penny with green ink on each side depicting a figure of Abraham Lincoln on one side and the Lincoln Memorial on the other, just like that of a penny.
2. One pair of light-colored underpants, which are "Adonna" by JCPenney, size 5. The underpants are inside-out and in place.
3. One light-colored pullover short-sleeved T-shirt. A soccer multicolored design is on the shirt, as are the words "Team Gear". This shirt is Team Gear brand size large.
4. One white bra, which is fashioned in the usual fashion over the back. The bra is light-colored and padded. No size or manufacturer.
5. Over the left ring finger is a yellow metal ring with a nugget design.

Circumstances of Recovery: Decomposed body found in desert near highway US 60.

2 Missing Person Exclusions
MP3917 Brandy Myers 05/26/1992 Maricopa AZ
MP2487 Terry Slaugenhoupt 01/06/1991 Allegheny PA

 

[leilarose68]

Can we talk about how beautiful and diverse Apache Junction's admixture looks on this pie chart? She has the most colorful I've seen. I'm so sad she has virtually no matches. Here's hoping for a more fruitful late 2020 and 2021 for our AJJD

Apache.jpg

 

[Dylansmom08]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

In trying to start my map for an unidentified from Mexico project I came across this one that really stood out to me and should be solvable.

Estimated Age: 16-18
Estimated PMI: weeks
Height: 5'1 estimated
Weight: unknown
Hair: Brown
Eyes: unknown
Clothing: One pair of blue denim cut-off short pants. The pants are in place with the waist buttoned and zipper buttoned. The pant cuff margins are irregular and frayed with folding. Multiple horizontal slit-like openings are over the anterior right front pant leg. In the left front pants pocket is a corroded quarter, a penny, and a yellow metal token. On one side of the token is "Valid for one student fare" and on the opposite side is "Phoenix Transit System" with a central large "P". The short pants are Levi brand. No size can be determined. Within the right front pants pocket is a round piece of paper the size of a penny with green ink on each side depicting a figure of Abraham Lincoln on one side and the Lincoln Memorial on the other, just like that of a penny. 2. One pair of light-colored underpants, which are "Adonna" by JCPenney, size 5. The underpants are inside-out and in place. 3. One light-colored pullover short-sleeved T-shirt. A soccer multicolored design is on the shirt, as are the words "Team Gear". This shirt is Team Gear brand size large. 4. One white bra, which is fashioned in the usual fashion over the back. The bra is light-colored and padded. No size or manufacturer

Jewelery: Over the left ring finger is a yellow metal ring with a nugget design

Circumstance notes: Exhumed under PCOME case number ML12-02076

** The circumstance notes I have never seen listed on a case before does this mean that the ME is doing further testing on the remains or have a possible match?

 

[victoriarobinson642]

The folks over at the DDP Doe Upload spreadsheet have uploaded more in-depth admixture information. Still looks like she has a good deal of Black and Indigenous ancestry.

 

[KaylaraOwl]

That Hungarian line might be an issue too, speaking from personal experience with my own Hungarian line.

 

[fidgeypie]

There is some speculation that she could be Anthonette Cayedito.

 

[leilarose68]

Apache Junction police have been trying to solve a 28-year-old cold case and mystery

DNA Doe Project works to identify Apache Junction Jane Doe

DDP is doing a media push for Apache Jane Doe

AJJD was half black and hispanic and might have African American connections to Virginia in Pittsylvania and Halifax counties, Pima county, Southern California, Bexar Texas and New Mexico.

Her Mexican connections might be in Nuevo Leon, Sinora Sinoloa, Jalisco and Tamau-Lipas, and Baja Peninsula.

Possible surname connections in Virginia:
Chandler, Dixon, Graves, Lovelace, Patrick

Names connected to Mexico and the southwestern US:
Alvarez, Aros, Chavez, Garza, Gurerra, Haro, Molina, Parra, Solis, Sokto, Villegas

 

[LizzieParker]

There is some speculation that she could be Anthonette Cayedito.

She was ruled out on NamUs.