IN IN - Fort Wayne, 'Mary Jane Doe' WhtFem UP16000, 20-25, in basement, May'92 - Tabetha Ann Murlin

[citizen_sleuth]

"Decomposed body found under home," Vidette-Messenger of Porter County, 17 May 1992, 5A.


"Body in Fort Wayne found to be female," Times-Mail [Bedford, IN], 17 May 1992, A2.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

@Caring1 Hey could you post the current list of NamUs exclusions for this Jane Doe? I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Caring1]

@Caring1 Hey could you post the current list of NamUs exclusions for this Jane Doe? I would greatly appreciate it.

7 Missing Person Exclusions

 

[theshadow45]

“Mary Jane” has been unidentified for 31 years today.

 

[twall]

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — The nameless woman was found 31 years ago wrapped in a moving blanket and floating in a flooded basement in a Reynolds Street home.

Pregnant, white, between 20 to 25 years of age, her case went into the voluminous file of missing persons until recently, when Deputy Coroner Christopher Meihls forged a relationship with licensed forensic genetic genealogist, Lisa Needler.

Who was she? Mary Jane Doe found in a Fort Wayne basement in 1992 could be identified with help from genetic investigators

WANE 15 reported that the woman had healing fractures on the right and left nasal bones. She was 26 weeks pregnant, was between 4-foot-6 and 5-foot-2 tall with weak muscularity and stature.

www.wane.com

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Allen County Coroner to ID woman at the center of 1992 cold case

The coroner’s office said in a press release the woman’s identity will be revealed at a press conference Thursday morning.

www.wane.com

Identified! LE are having a press conference Thursday.

 

[Caring1]

I had not heard of IGGnite DNA before. This is a women-owned small business based out of CT. Looking forward to seeing more of their work. The business of FGG is certainly growing. Good for them.

 

[twall]

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - 21Alive News has confirmed the identity of a woman found dead in a Fort Wayne basement in 1992.

Tabetha Ann Murlin, who was about 26 weeks pregnant at the time of her death, was found dead in the basement of 3512 Reynolds St. on May 15, 1992. Known as Mary Jane Doe for nearly the last 32 years, she was found wrapped in a blanket in a basement that was flooded with about six to eight inches of water.

A family member of Murlin’s confirmed her identity with 21Alive News Wednesday evening.

Woman found dead in Fort Wayne basement in 1992 identified more than 30 years later

21Alive News has confirmed the identity of a woman found dead in a Fort Wayne basement in 1992.

www.21alivenews.com

 

[victoriarobinson642]

If that is truly Jane Doe's identity, she was living in Fort Wayne in 1992, about four miles away from where she was found, but all traces of her drop off after that. She was around 23.

 

[HmmMysterious]

Another article mentioning Tabitha: Allen County Coroner’s Office to reveal identity of woman found dead in Fort Wayne basement in 1992

A friend of the family described her as a free spirit who didn't stay in one place for very long. They also said the clay bust didn't resemble her that much.

 

[Mandala]

Great outcome. I did a Google search of her name to see if she was reported missing but nothing comes up.

 

[beavt]

If that is truly Jane Doe's identity, she was living in Fort Wayne in 1992, about four miles away from where she was found, but all traces of her drop off after that. She was around 23.

Likely DV then JMO

 

[beavt]

Great outcome. I did a Google search of her name to see if she was reported missing but nothing comes up.

Odd about the non-reporting of a missing pregnant family member…

 

[Bombshell]

 

[victoriarobinson642]

I agree that the reconstruction doesn't really look much like her.

 

[summergirl1]

Coroner reveals identity of Mary Jane Doe at the center of 1992 cold case

The case initially went cold, but efforts to solve her death were renewed in 2016.

www.wane.com

 

[summergirl1]

Mary Jane Doe identified as Fort Wayne woman after 32-year investigation

Advancements in technology and countless hours of investigating led to a 32-year-old cold case victim’s identification, the Allen County coroner said today.

www.journalgazette.net

 

[summergirl1]

It's interesting that she separated from her husband in 1989 and he has spoken with police and appears to be a witness, not a suspect. Her remains were not thought have been there as far back as 1989, so it sounds like she moved on and was in another relationship.

Hopefully her family (or maybe even her estranged husband) might have some idea of who she was dating closer to the time of her death, as it sounds like whoever that was would probably be a suspect or of interest to LE as it's suspicious she was pregnant and then found dead. Yes, it could have been anyone who killed her without knowing more about the circumstances..but. I wonder if they ever tried to get DNA from the fetal remains as she was 6 months pregnant at the time of her death. That would reveal the father, who may or may not have more knowledge of how she ended up dead in a flooded basement.

 

[Falling Down]

It's interesting that she separated from her husband in 1989 and he has spoken with police and appears to be a witness, not a suspect. Her remains were not thought have been there as far back as 1989, so it sounds like she moved on and was in another relationship.

Hopefully her family (or maybe even her estranged husband) might have some idea of who she was dating closer to the time of her death, as it sounds like whoever that was would probably be a suspect or of interest to LE as it's suspicious she was pregnant and then found dead. Yes, it could have been anyone who killed her without knowing more about the circumstances..but. I wonder if they ever tried to get DNA from the fetal remains as she was 6 months pregnant at the time of her death. That would reveal the father, who may or may not have more knowledge of how she ended up dead in a flooded basement.

Good point. 26 weeks=roughly 6 months.

Following...

 

[lightofmine99]

I wonder if they ever tried to get DNA from the fetal remains as she was 6 months pregnant at the time of her death. That would reveal the father, who may or may not have more knowledge of how she ended up dead in a flooded basement.

It should be possible for them to still do this, no? I am reminded of the mind-blowing case of Reyna Marroquín.

Highly recommend the Grave Secrets episode on her.